. 


,  5? 


DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE; 


OB, 


A  QUESTION  OF  CONSCIENCE. 


A    NO  VEL. 


BY 


MARGARET  LEE, 
AUTHOE  OP   "ARNOLD'S  CHOICE.' 


NEW  YORK : 

D.    APPLETON     AND     COMPANY, 
443  &  445  BROADWAY. 

1808. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1807,  by 

D.  APPLETON  &  CO., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


CONTENTS. 


FAGB 

CHAP.  I. — IN  WHICH  MY  SUSPICIONS  ARE  AWAKENED,   ...      6 

II. — IN  WHICH  MY  SUSPICIONS  ARE  STRENGTHENED,  .  20 

III. IN  WHICH  MY  SUSPICIONS  ARE  CONFIRMED,      .  .  .48 

IV. — IN  WHICH  MRS.  FERRIS  MAKES  A  MOTE,    ...         78 

V. IN  WHICH  I  MEET  A  RlTAL, 10-t 

VI. — AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST,  .  ....       136 

VII.— DEFEAT, 169 

Vin. — THREE  YEARS  AFTER, 196 

IX.— A  DINNER-PARTY, 223 

X. — A  TALK  WITH  MR.  MASTERS, 239 

XL — IN  WHICH  THE  FIRST  LINK  OF  A  CURIOUS  CHAIN  is 

FORGED, 262 

XII. — THE  CHAIN  is  LENGTHENED, 285 

XIII. — ANOTHER  LINK,  AND  AN  OLD  FRIEND,  ....  305 
XIV. — BETWEEN  THE  RIFLE-PITS  AT  FREDERICKSBURG,  .  .  335 
XV. — IN  THE  FIELD-HOSPITAL  AT  GETTYSBURG,  .  .  .  356 
XVI. — How  THE  LINKS  WERE  JOINED,  ....  875 
XVII. — THE  QUESTION  ANSWERED, 397 


DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE; 

OR, 

A    QUESTION"     OF     CONSCIENCE 


CHAPTER  I. 

IN  WHICH  MY  SUSPICIONS  ABE  AWAKENED. 

ONE  cold  evening  in  winter,  I  was  sitting  in  my 
little  office,  idly  pondering  over  my  life,  weighing  its 
prospects,  and  wondering  how  I  should  support  its 
necessities.  Considering  my  present  position,  the  ques- 
tion was  growing  rather  serious.  Here  was  I,  John 
Wilrner,  tall,  strong,  and  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
with  my  doctor's  diploma  framed,  and  hanging  over 
the  fireplace,  just  where  my  eyes  could  rest  on  it,  with 
the  least  upward  movement  of  my  head.  I  had  studied 
and  toiled  hard  for  that  diploma,  dreamed  of  it  at  night, 
thought  of  it  by  day;  and  now  that  it  was  mine,  honestly 
won,  it  somehow  had  not  the  power  of  raising  my 
spirits,  or  nerving  me  with  fresh  courage. 

In  fact,  I  had  not  a  cent  in  my  pocket  or  out  of  it. 
I  owed  the  landlady  and  the  washerwoman,  and  my 


6   •  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

tailor  had  long  ceased  dunning  me,  finding  of  how  little 
use  it  was.  For  the  first  time,  since  starting  in  my 
career  as  a  doctor,  I  thought  of  writing  to  my  mother, 
and  asking  her  to  advance  me  a  small  loan.  Pride, 
and  the  knowledge  that  the  loss  of  even  a  trifling  sum 
would  deprive  her  of  many  little  comforts,  had,  so  far, 
prevented  me  from  doing  it.  Thus,  I  was  sitting, 
gloomily  meditating  over  ways  and  means,  when  a  loud 
peal  at  my  bell  made  me  start  from  my  chair,  with  a 
slight  hope  that  this  might  be  a  case  where  I  could 
conscientiously  ask  a  fee,  in  proportion  to  the  skill  and 
care  expended.  Hitherto  my  patients  had  not  been  of 
the  paying  class ;  poor  and  miserable  in  the  majority, 
their  cases  had  drawn  heavily  on  my  skill,  and  added 
materially  to  my  practical  medical  education ;  but  pro- 
portionate charges  were  out  of  the  question. 

While  this  wild  hope  was  passing  through  my  brain, 
I  was  making  my  way  to  the  door.  I  opened  it,  and  a 
man  sprang  in  hastily,  calling  out — 

"  Are  you  the  doctor  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  am  Doctor  Wilmer." 

"The  master  is  dying,  and  Doctor (naming  a 

celebrated  physician  of  the  day)  is  out  of  town.  The 
mistress  told  me  to  bring  ike  first  I  came  to." 

While  he  was  speaking,  I  put  on  my  overcoat  and 
hat,  and  we  started  together  for  the  place.  It  was  a 
fine  house,  situated  in  one  of  the  most  aristocratic 
streets  in  New  York.  The  hall-door  was  opened  noise- 
lessly by  a  servant,  who  had  been  evidently  on  the 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ABE   AWAKENED.  7 

watch  for  us,  and  she  showed  me,  at  once,  into  a  hand- 
some room  on  the  second  floor. 

The  door  leading  into  the  adjoining  apartment  was 
open,  and  I  heard  a  sound  of  heavy  and  labored 
breathing,  coming  from  it.  The  servant  went  in  to 
announce  my  arrival,  and  returned  in  a  moment,  fol- 
lowed by  a  magnificent-looking  woman,  of  perhaps 
twenty-six  years. 

"  You  are  a  physician  ?  "  she  inquired. 

"  I  am,"  I  answered. 

"My  husband  is  very  low.  He  is  suffering  from 
disease  of  the  heart,  and  our  regular  physician  has  been 
unexpectedly  called  away  from  the  city.  Have  you 
confidence  enough  in  yourself  to  undertake  the  respon- 
sibility of  such  a  case  ?  " 

"  I  have  had  many  such  cases  in  my  practice,"  I  re- 
plied, "and  have  been  in  most  of  them  very  successful." 

"You  are  so  young-looking,"  she  remarked,  glan- 
cing at  me  from  head  to  foot. 

"  I  have  practised  seven  years,  part  of  the  time  with 
the  gentleman  whom  your  servant  named  as  being  your 
family  physician."  She  stood  for  a  moment  or  two, 
thinking,  and  then  motioned  me  to  follow  her  into  the 
sick  man's  room. 

I  was  surprised  to  find  in  the  invalid  a  man  ap- 
proaching sixty  years.  He  was  propped  up  in  bed  with 
pillows;  and  in  spite  of  the  suffering  he  was  under- 
going, his  eyes  were  clear  and  bright,  giving  evidence 
th-it  the  intellect  was  not  yet  weakened.  He  threw  me 


8  DB.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

a  searching  glance  as  I  entered,  smiled  faintly,  and  put 
out  his  hand,  which  I  took  in  mine.  He  was  ap- 
parently conscious  that  his  time  was  short,  and  was 
collecting  all  his  remaining  strength  for  the  perform- 
ance of^one  last  object. 

I  took  a  seat  beside  the  bed,  to  which  he  pointed, 
and  prepared  a  medicine  calculated  to  relieve  him  a 
little.  It  was  very  successful  in  its  effect;  when  he 
spoke,  his  voice  was  full  and  distinct. 

"  Matilda,  send  for  Masters  and  Mr.  Parker,  I  must 
see  them  now,  while  I  have  strength  spared  to  me." 

His  wife  left  the  room.  While  she  was  gone,  I 
raised  the  dying  man,  placed  him  in  a  more  comfort- 
able position,  and  gave  him  some  of  the  soothing  medi- 
cine. There  was  that  in  his  whole  manner  and  appear- 
ance that  attracted  me  irresistibly,  although  I  had  never 
before  seen  him,  anrd  was  ignorant  of  even  his  name. 

His  wife  returned  after  a  little  while,  and  took  her 
accustomed  seat  by  his  side.  She  had  called  him  her 
husband,  but  for  that  I  should  have  supposed  him  to  be 
her  father.  While  we  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  two 
men  whom  he  had  asked  to  see,  I  sat  weaving  in  my 
brain  odd  fancies  connected  with  this  strangely  con- 
trasted husband  and  wife. 

He  was  dark,  and  decidedly  old  for  his  years,  with 
a  likeable  face  and  gentle  expression,  in  spite  of  his 
sickness.  There  was  something  in  the  eyes  that  de- 
noted truth  and  goodness,  something  open  and  fearless, 
as  if  his  conscience  was  clear  and  easy,  as  if  he  had 


m  wmcn  MY  SUSPICIONS  ARE  AWAKENED. 

nothing  to  dread,  nothing  to  regret,  now  that  his  last 
hour  was  drawing  near. 

She  was  a  blonde,  with  a  profusion  of  light  hair, 
most  becomingly  arranged,  with  handsome  features, 
and  a  bright  color  in  her  cheeks.  Her  figure  Was  ele- 
gant and  most  graceful,  with  the  heavy  folds  of  her 
dress,  a  rich  dark-blue  silk  falling  from  the  rounded 
waist,  and  sweeping  the  floor  at  my  feet.  Her  neck 
and  arms  were  shaded  with  costly  lace,  and  the  hand, 
which  the  dying  man  held  in  his,  was  like  wax,  soft 
and  white,  and  covered  with  rings,  the  lights  from 
whose  diamond  centres  flashed  in  my  eyes  where  I 
sat. 

The  room  was  in  keeping  with  her  appearance,  from 
the  carpet  that  felt  like  moss  under  my  feet,  to  the  elab- 
orate toilet  set,  shining  on  the  distant  bureau.  Luxury 
and  refinement,  blended  in  harmony,  spoke  from  eveiy 
thing  surrounding  her. 

In  spite  of  all  her  fascinations  I  took  a  dislike  to  her, 
while  I  sat,  watching  with  her,  the  last  hours  of  her 
dying  husband.  I  caught  a  look  that  she  fixed  on  him, 
while  he  lay  with  closed  eyes,  breathing  heavily.  There 
was  something  almost  indescribable  in  that  glance. 
There  were  mingled  in  it  coldness,  calculation,  and  dis- 
like. "While  apparently  performing  the  part  of  a  de- 
voted, loving  wife,  this  woman's  heart  had  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  her  outward  actions.  A  moment 
after,  she  turned  her  eyes  on  me,  and  the  aversion  was 
increased.  They  were  large,  full,  and  calculating;  in 
1* 


10  DR.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

color,  a  bright  blue  ;  without  real  softness,  and  possess- 
ing very  little  depth. 

I  have  a  queer  liking  for  examining  eyes ;  I  always 
look  at  them  first,  and  I  judge  from  them  a  great  deal 
what  the  true  character  may  be.  To  me  they  are  the 
most  expressive  feature  of  the  face. 

We  sat  for  nearly  an  hour,  watching  without  speak- 
ing, and  the  old  man  lay  with  a  patient  expression  in 
his  face,  waiting  and  collecting  his  strength.  At  last 
came  a  slight  rustle,  and  the  servant  ushered  in  two 
gentlemen.  They  advanced  toward  the  bed,  and 
pressed  the  invalid's  hands  in  theirs,  while  asking 
how  he  felt  in  subdued,  earnest  tones.  One  of  these 
men  was  probably  fifty  years  of  age,  with  keen,  bright 
gray  eyes,  white  hair,  and  a  kindly  look  in  his  face. 
The  other  was  a  dark,  powerful-looking  man,  in  the 
prime  of  life,  with  brilliant  black  eyes,  and  heavy 
beard  and  mustache. 

For  the  few  minutes  that  they  stood  quiet  near 
their  dying  friend,  waiting  to  hear  his  wishes,  I  no- 
ticed that  the  younger  one  kept  his  eyes  on  the  wife's 
face,  as  if  determined  on  reading  her  thoughts.  She 
had  merely  acknowledged  their  bows  on  entering,  and 
was  sitting  as  before,  her  hand  within  reach  of  her  hus- 

o  * 

band's.  He  was  looking  from  one  to.  another  of  the 
group  now,  and  breathing  with  great  difficulty.  I 
raised  him  again*  and  he  thanked  me  with  his  patient 
smile. 

"  Shall  I  leave  the  room  ?  "  I  asked. 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   AWAKENED.         11 

"No,  no,"  he  answered.  "Stay  near  me;  you  re- 
lieve me  very  much." 

I  resumed  my  seat.     He  turned  to  his  wife. 

"Matilda,  my  will — I  want  to  hear  it  read  over 
again." 

His  wife  rose,  and,  taking  some  keys  from  under  his 
pillow,  walked  toward  a  small  safe  placed  at  one  end  of 
the  room.  She  unlocked  it,  and  returned,  with  the 
paper  in  her  hand. 

"Read  it  to  me,  Joe,"  said  the  invalid  in  a  faint 
voice. 

The  older  man  of  the  two  opened  the  paper,  and 
read  it  aloud,  in  a  distinct,  slow  tone,  as  if  wishing  all 
the  hearers  to  weigh  well  the  meaning  of  it.  I  could 
recall  the  words,  as  they  fell  on  my  ears,  in  whole  sen- 
tences, for  months  after.  It  was  short  and  decisive ;  I 
understood  the  whole  substance  of  it,  though  not  very 
well  versed,  at  that  time,  in  legal  terms.  The  first  sen- 
tence, "  I,  Arthur  Ferris,"  revealed  to  me  the  name  of 
my  patient.  The  property,  which  involved  a  large 
amount  of  real  estate  and  stocks,  was  to  be  disposed 
of  in  this  way:  After  some  very  liberal  donations  to 
charitable  institutions,  and  some  trifling  legacies  to  old 
friends  and  servants,  the  bulk  of  it  was  to  be  equally 
divided  between  his  wife  Matilda  and  his  daughter 
Arabella  Ferris.  Should  his  wife  die  before  his  daugh- 
ter, the  wife's  share  would  revert  to  the  daughter.  On 
the  other  hand,  should  the  daughter  die  first,  unmarried, 
her  half  would  go  to  the  wife.  The  child  was  to  remain 


12  DR.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

under  the  guardianship  of  her  step-mother,  Matilda  Fer- 
ris, who  was  also  appointed  co-trustee  of  her  property 
with  Joseph  Masters  and  William  Parker.  In  case  of 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Ferris,  the  daughter  was  to  reside 
with  an  aunt,  h"er  dead  mother's  eldest  sister.  At 
twenty,  she  would  be  of  age,  with  full  power  over  the 
interest  of  her  money,  and  at  liberty  to  marry  whom  she 
pleased. 

The  principal  was  to  remain  under  the  control  of  the 
trustees  chosen  by  her*  father  (they  having,  in  turn,  the 
right  to  appoint  successors  to  their  trust),  to  be  invested 
for  her  benefit,  and  that  of  her  heirs,  until  she  should 
reach  the  age  of  thirty-five,  at  which  time  she  would 
take  complete  possession  of  it  all.  Tne  executors  were 
Joseph  Masters  and  William  Parker. 

The  will  being  read,  Mr.  Ferris  expressed  himself 
satisfied  with  it,  and,  after  a  few  minutes,  asked  to  see 
his  child. 

"  She  is  asleep,"  answered  Mrs.  Ferris. 

"Then  waken  her,  Matilda;  she  will  not  have  her 
old  father  very  long." 

Mrs.  Ferns  left  the  room,  and  Mr.  Parker  walked 
after  her.  A  short  time  passed,  and  then  a  woman-ser- 
vant appeared  at  the  door,  holding  by  the  hand  a  slight, 
pretty  child,  about  eleven  years  of  age.  She  quickly 
unclasped  the  detaining  hand  as  she  caught  sight  of  her 
father's  face,  and  with  a  low  cry  of  joy  she  sprang 
into  his  extended  arms,  and  laid  her  head  softly  on  his 
breast. 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AKE  AWAKENED.          13 

"  Oh,  papa  !  I  have  not  seen  you  for  so  very  long. 
May  I  stay  with  you  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  little  one,  for  a  short  time.    Papa  is  very  sick." 

The  child  raised  her  head,  looked  in  her  father's  face, 
and  kissed  him  passionately,  then  she  hid  her  own  again, 
only  murmuring,  "  Papa,  papa,"  as  if  conscious  of  what 
was  coming  so  very  fast. 

Mrs.  Ferris  returned. 

"  Belle,  you  will  hurt  papa,  lying  in  that  way  on  his 
breast.  It  prevents  him  breathing  freely." 

She  spoke  sharply,  and  stretched  out  her  hand  to  re- 
move the  child  from  her  place. 

The  little  girl  shuddered,  and  only  clasped  -her  arms 
still  tighter  around  her  father's  neck. 

"  Let  her  alone,  Matilda,  it  is  for  the  last  time,"  Mr. 
Fen-is  said  with  increasing  difficulty.  Then  he  turned 
his  eyes,  growing  dim  so  fast,  on  the  bright  little  face 
raised  to  his  in  awe-struck  silence.  "Kiss  papa,  dar- 
ling, kiss  me  good-night.  Perhaps  I  shall  be  better  in 
the  morning." 

The  little  creature  obeyed  him,  and,  seeing  how  weak 
he  was  becoming,  I  lifted  her  in  my  arms  and  carried 
her  into  the  adjoining  room,  where  I  placed  her  in  the 
nurse's  care,  and  then  hurried  back  to  my  patient. 

He  was  sinking  rapidly.  Mr.  Masters  held  one  of 
his  hands,  and  watched  his  struggles  with  a  womanly 
tenderness  of  look  and  manner,  while  restraining  with 
difficulty  his  own  sorrowful  emotions.  Mr.  Parker  was 
supporting  him  on  the  other  side.  His  wife  had  thrown 


14:  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

herself  into  a  low  chair,  and  covered  her  face  with  her 
handkerchief.  In  a  few  moments  all  was  over;  and  hav- 
ing performed  the  few  duties  remaining  to  me,  I  left  the 
house,  and  returned  to  my  desolate  room.  The  fire  had 
gone  out  in  my  absence,  it  was  cold  and  gloomy,  and  the 
furniture  looked  older  and  shabbier  than  ever.  The 
contrast  between  it  and  the  one*I  had  just  quitted 
struck  me  forcibly. 

Though  accustomed  to  look  on  death,  under  cir- 
cumstances much  more  saddening  than  in  this  case, 
the  impression  left  on  my  mind  was  of  such  a  nature, 
that  I  could  not  sleep  for  hours  after  lying  down ;  but 
instead,  my  busy  brain  wove  long  imaginary  romances, 
founded  on  the  strange  will,  and  the  people  it  affected. 
Even  in  ray  dreams  the  scenes  of  the  night  before  repeat- 
ed themselves,  until  at  last  I  was  glad  to  rise  and  go  out 
in  the  cool  morning  air,  to  shake  off  their  gloomy  effect. 

I  attended  the  funeral  some  day  after,  and  met  there 
my  old  friend,  the  family  physician.  He  told  me  a  few 
things  about  Mr.  Ferns  that  greatly  interested  me.  He 
had  married,  rather  late  in  life,  a  very  beautiful  woman, 
to  whom  he  was  passionately  attached.  She  lived  only 
a  few  years,  and  died,  leaving  him  with  one  child,  the 
little  girl  Arabella.  Afterward,  he  married  the  half- 
sister  of  his  first  wife,  the  lady  whom  I  had  met  on 
the  night  of  his  death. 

.  "She  is  certainly  very  beautiful,"  remarked  my 
friend.  "  But  the  first  Mrs.  Ferris  was  a  far  superior 
woman." 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AKE   AWAKENED.         15 

I  also  renewed  my  acquaintance  with  little  Miss 
Ferris  on  that  day.  She  came  over  to  me  of  her  own  ac- 
cord, from  a  distant  part  of  the  room,  and  held  out  her 
hand  timidly,  as  if  half  afraid  of  a  disapproving  glance 
for  her  temerity.  I  Avas  surprised  at  her  remembering 
me,  but  she  told  me  that  she  knew  my  eyes ;  a  remark 
that  made  me  look  at*hers,  and  they  were  well  worth  the 
trouble — large,  soft,  deep-brown  ones,  with  a  sad  expres- 
sion in  them  already.  When  I  went  home,  I  had  to  ex- 
amine my  own  in  the  glass,  to  see  if  there  was  any  thing 
very  remarkable  about  them,  but  I  could  not  discover  it. 

I  received  a  check  for  my  medical  services  rendered 
to  Mr.  Ferris,  that  surprised  me  by  its  amount,  and  not 
only  paid  all  my  debts,  but  left  me  a  little  balance  to  go 
on  with  again. 

Two  weeks  after,  I  heard  of  an  opening  in  Buffalo, 
that  promised  well  to  an  energetic  young  man,  and  I 
secured  it.  I  sold  my  practice  in  New  York  to  a  fellow- 
student,  and  having  packed  my  trunk,  and  left  it  to  be 
sent  after  me,  I  started,  valise  in  hand,  to  walk  to  the 
Albany  boat,  in  order  to  take  a  farewell  glance  at  Broad- 
way. 

While  about  to  cross  a  side-street,  I  came  face  to 
face  with  Mrs.  Ferris  and  her  little  step-daughter,  seated 
in  a  low  carriage.  .  The  horses  were  going  at  a  slow 
pace,  and  I  had  time  to  take  a  long  look  at  them.  Mrs. 
Ferris  was  quite  bewitching,  in  her  becoming  widow's 
cap  and  strings,  and  heavy  crape  veil.  Miss  Ferris  had 
a  subdued,  mournful  look  about  her,  and  her  black 


16  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

clothes  served  to  make  still  paler  her  small,  colorless  face. 
I  was  nearly  past  her,  when  she  looked  up  and  recog- 
nized me  with  a  bright  smile.  That  smile  danced  before 
my  eyes  and  lightened  my  cares  for  many  days  after, 
coming  as  it  did  from  the  warm  heart  and  artless  face 
of  an  innocent  child. 

I  Avas  a  lonely  sort  of  fellow  anyhow.  My  dear 
mother,  and  my  only  sister,  lived  together  in  a  quiet 
little  village  near  Albany.  They  had  just  enough  to  sup- 
port themselves  comfortably.  When  I  felt  fagged  out, 
I  would  run  up  to  them  for  a  few  days,  to  be  petted,  and 
made  much  of;  after  which,  I  could  return  with  fresh 
courage,  to  my  old,  dull  routine  of  city  work.  My  sister 
was  some  years  older  than  I,  and  very  fond  of  me.  So 
it  happened,  that  I  never  knew  what  it  was  to  need  a 
woman's  love  and  care  until  I  was  alone  in  New  York, 
struggling  with  others  on  the  road  to  fame  and  fortune. 
If  I  ever  had  indulged  in  day-dreams,  of  a  little  home  of 
my  own,  and  a  bright  face  watching  for  me  at  its  window, 
reflection  taught  me  that  for  some  years  at  least,  such  a 
piece  of  happiness  was  quite  impossible.  So  I  coura- 
geously refused  all  offers  of  introduction  to  nice  young 
girls,  with  or  without  rich  papas.  If  a  girl  were  good 
and  pretty,  and  without  money,  what  right  would  I 
have  to  gain  her  love,  and  then  bind  her  to  a  long  en- 
gagement, while  I  should  earn  the  means  necessary  for 
her  support  ?  If  she  were  rich,  the  stronger  reason  why 
I  should  keep  my  distance.  I  had  heard  too  much  of 
poor  young  doctors  hunting  for  rteh  wives. 


IN  WHICH  MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE  AWAKENED.         17 

The  result  was,  that  when  I  quitted  New  York,  to 
seek  for  wealth  and  fame  in  a  new  field  of  action,  the 
only  friends  I  left  behind  me  were  my  old  fellow-stu- 
dents, several  of  whom  promised  to  keep  me  informed  of 
matters  in  the  city,  how  they  progressed  and  how  they 
retrograded. 

As  I  jumped  on  board  the  boat,  I  came  near  knocking 
into  the  water  an  old  gentleman,  who  was  standing  on 
the  plank,  exchanging  some  words  with  a  lady  on  the 
pier.  Turning  to  apologize,  I  recognized  Mr.  Masters. 
He  was  on  his  way  to  the  western  part  of  the  State,  to 

transact  some  business  connected  with  the  affairs  of  the 

• 

late  Mr.  Ferris.  After  supper,  we  sat  for  a  long  time  on 
deck,  discussing  various  subjects,  among  the  rest  Mrs. 
Ferris.  It  struck  me  that  my  companion  had  not  a  very 
high  opinion  of  her. 

"  She  is  remarkably  handsome,"  I  observed. 

"Yes,  and  confoundedly  smart,"  was  the  answer. 

My  companion  was  smoking,  a  recreation  I  did  not 
join  him  in,  for  two  very  good  reasons:  the  first  being, 
that  I  disliked  tobacco  in  every  form ;  and  the  second, 
that  if  I  had  cared  for  it,  I  had  not  the  money  to  indulge 
the  taste. 

"  Did  you  notice  the  wording  of  the  will  ?  "  asked  my 
companion,  after  puffing  away  for  some  time  in  a  moody, 
meditative  manner. 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  understood  it,  although  I  arn  not 
what  you  call  up  in  law." 

"  Oh !  it's  plain  enough ,'  she  would  have  it  so.     It  is 


18  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

all  her  composition,  though  she  has  no  idea  that  I  see 
through  her  so  clearly.  .She  chose  Parker  for  one  of  the 
executors.  It  was  very  foolish  of  poor  Ferris  to  give  in 
to  her  as  he  did.  She  has  the  child  completely  in  her 
power,  and  Parker  is  her  adviser.  I  only  wonder  now 
that  my  poor  friend  had  firmness  enough  to  hold  out  for 
me.  She  strongly  opposed  niy  being  named  as  either 
executor  or  co-trustee." 

"  You  think  that  she  don't  like  you  ?  "  I  remarked. 

"I  don't  think  any  thing  about  it,  I  know  it.  Her 
acting  deceived  poor  Ferris,  it  never  did  me  for  one 
moment.  He  died  in  th'e  firm  belief  that  she  loved  his 
child,  and  was  devotedly  fond  of  him.  I  know  that  she 
married  him  for  his  money  and  position,  and  that  she 
dislikes  the  little  girl  heartily.  You  see,  she  was  his 
first  wife's  half-sister,  and  considerably  younger.  She 
was  always  spending  weeks  and  months  at  their 
house,  and  managed  to  understand  the  old  man's  dis- 
position exactly.  Then,  when  poor  Mrs.  Ferris  (who 
really  was  a  fine  woman)  died,  she  played  a  very  good 
game.  She  nursed  and  petted  the  child,  called  it  the 
most  endearing  names,  sympathized  with  the  father,  and 
never  ceased  till  she  married  him,  and  got  possession  of 
a  handsome  house  and  unlimited  money." 

"  Did  she  make  him  happy  ?  "    I  inquired. 

"Yes,  she  certainly  did.  She  played  her  cards  well. 
I  have  to  thank  her  for  making  the  last  years  of  his  life 
pleasant  to  him.  Still,  I  know  the  motive.  She  takes 
half  his  money — the  child* is  delicate,  and  I  believe 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   AWAKENED.          19 

very  sensitive.  There  is  a  chance  of  the  other  half 
too." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  hard  on  her.  She  is  almost  too 
young  to  be  so  very  cunning." 

"  Dr.  "Wilmer,  did  you  look  well  at  her  eyes  ?  "  The 
old  gentleman  turned  as  he  spoke,  and  looked  me  straight 
in  the  face. 

"  I  certainly  did  not  admire  them,  though  they  are 
beautiful  in  shape  and  color." 

"  Exactly.  Think  of  the  expression  of  them.  I  tell 
you,  Wilmer,  that  woman  is  capable  of  any  thing.  She 
would  sell  her  soul  for  money." 

"  You  will  have  to  watch  her  closely." 

"  Yes,  but  you  see  my  hands  are  tied.  Parker  is 
her  friend,  and  I  grow  older  every  day.  It  will  be  two 
young  heads  and  two  unscrupulous  minds  against  one 
old  man.  I  can't  match  them  in  cunning,  whatever  I 
might  do  as  regards  honesty." 

"  Right  and  truth  generally  succeed  in  the  end," 
I  said.  "  You  must  hope  for  the  best." 

"And  expect  the  worst,"  was  the  old  gentleman's 
answer. 

We  travelled  together  as  far  as  Syracuse,  where  we 
parted,  with  warm  feelings  on  both  sides,  and  I  pursued 
my  way  alone  to  Buffalo. 


CHAPTER  H. 

IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AKE   STRENGTHENED. 

FOB  some  years  I  labored  steadily  at  my  profession 
in  Buffalo.  I  found  the  opening,  if  any  thing,  better 
than  it»had  been  represented  to  me.  I  became  attached 
to  the  place,  its  people,  and  my  fellow-workers  there. 
My  health  was  good,  my  practice  rapidly  increasing 
and  remunerative.  My  only  vacations  had  been  of 
two  or  three  weeks  in  length,  at  long  intervals.  Then, 
confiding  my  patients  to  skilful  hands,  and  leaving  all 
cares  behind  me,  I  had  gone  East,  for  a  visit  to  my 
mother  and  sister. 

Once  I  had  extended  my  trip  to  Kew  York,  but  my 
old  friends  were  scattered  ;  some  had  gone  South,  others 
West;  the  old  associations  were  weakened,  and  my 
pleasant  recollections  soon  dispelled.  I  met  crowds  of 
people  at  every  turn,  but  the  faces  were  all  strange  ones ; 
I  had  no  interest  nor  concern  in  any  of  the  things  that 
engrossed  their  thought  and  time,  and  I  found  myself 
wondering  what  I  ever  had  seen  to  admire  or  care  for 
in  the  noisy,  crowded  metropolis. 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS  ABE   STRENGTHENED.     21 

I  inquired  for  the  celebrated  physician  under  whom 
I  had  studied.  He  was  dead  some  years.  I  walked 
past  the  house  where  Mr.  Ferris  died,  recalling  as  I  did 
so  the  scenes  of  that  night,  and  the  curious  speculations 
to  which  they  had  given  rise.  Passing  down  Broadway, 
the  sight  of  an  old  sign  on  the  corner  of  a  street  brought 
back  vividly  to  my  mind  the  remembrance  of  a  low 
carriage,  with  two  figures  in  it,  and  a  bright  smile  on  a 
childish  face.  I  asked  myself  what  had  become  of  that 
child.  Most  probably  she  -was  at  some  fashionable 
school,  preparing  to  create  a  sensation  in  society  with 
her  beauty  and  knowledge.  I  thought  of  calling  on 
Mr.  Masters  but  gave  up  the  idea  the  next  m%nent. 
What  were  Mrs.  Ferris  and  her  affairs  to  me  ? 

Thus  six  years  rolled  away.  One  sultry  afternoon  in 
September  I  drew  up  my  horse  at  my  own  door,  gave 
the  reins  to  my  servant,  sought  my  comfortable  arm- 
chair in  the  office,  and  threw  myself  back  in  it  with  a 
long-drawn  sigh  of  relief.  It  had  been  a  sickly  summer, 
and  I  was  worn  out,  not  having  taken  a  day's  rest  all 
through  the  warm,  unhealthy  months  just  passed.  Lat- 
terly I  had  been  making  up  my  mind  to  urge  my  moth- 
er and  sister  to  give  up  their  own  old  house,  and  take 
charge  of  mine.  For  some  reasons  I  hesitated  about 
making  the  request.  Buffalo  was  not,  on  the  Avholc,  as 
healthy  a  place  as  the  one  in  which  they  were  settled. 
Breaking  up  the  old  home  and  its  associations  might  in- 
jure my  mother's  health  and  spirits;  so  I  still  debated 
the  point  with  myself,  not  arriving  at  any  conclusion. 


.22  DE.  -WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

Every  little  while  my  sister  would  ask  me  the  same  ques- 
tion in  her  letters.  "  John,  why  don't  you  marry  ?  " 
and  whenever  we  met,  I  always  heard  a  discourse  from 
both  mother  and  sister  on  the  same  subject  of  interest. 
My  answer  was  invariably  the  same — "  The  older  I  grow 
the  harder  I  am  to  please,"  which  answer  only  brought 
down  on  my  devoted  head  another  lecture,  the  chief 
point  in  which  was,  the  self-conceit  of  men,  and  their 
growing  indifference  to  the  charms  of  married  life.  I 
had  arrived  at  the  dignity  of  a  neat  little  house  of  my 
own,  well  furnished,  and  all  paid  for.  Lying  back  in 
my  easy-chair,  I  threw  a  glance  of  satisfaction  around 
me,  not  unmixed  with  some  pride,  for  I  had  worked 
hard  for  the  comforts  that  I  enjoyed  so  much. 

My  housekeeper,  coming  in  with  a  long  broom  and 
duster,  gave  me  a  Searching  glance  from  under  the  bor- 
der of  her  cap,  leaned  her  hands  on  the  table,  and  thus 
addressed  me : 

"Dr.  Wilmer,  you're  as  white  as  a  sheet.  There's 
three  names  on  the  slate ;  every  one  of  them  wants  you 
first ;  and  if  you  don't  get  some  one  to  attend  to  your 
business,  and  leave  the  city  for  a  month,  it's  my  opinion 
that  you'll  soon  be  sending  after  a  doctor  for  yourself." 
She  then  put  the  slate  before  me  with  a  loud  bang,  and 
catching  up  her  house-cleaning  implements  went  into  the 
next  room,  where  I  heard  her,  a  moment  after,  expend- 
ing her  disgust  with  me,  by  ploughing  up  the  dust  from 
the  carpet. 

Having  refreshed  myself  with  some  sandwiches  and 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   STRENGTHENED.      23 

wine,  I  left  the  house  again,  to  attend  to  my  duties ;  but 
coming  home,  I  determined  to  follow  Mrs.  Marks'  advice, 
and  therefore  stopped  in  at  the  house  of  one  of  my  med- 
ical brethren,  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
an  absence  of  a  month.  That  done,  I  went  home  and 
informed  the  worthy  woman  that  I  was  going  to  Niagara 
for  some  time,  that  I  would  start  the  next  morning,  and 
that  I  wanted  my  valise  packed.  Having  astonished 
her  by  this,  address,  I  went  to  bed  without  waiting  for 
her  approval  of  it,  feeling  better  already  for  my  deter- 
mination. I  dreamt  all  night  of  catching  fish  so  enor- 
mous that  I  could  not  pull  them  in,  and  of  bringing 
down  birds  as  large  as  turkeys.  Remembering  my  vis- 
ions, I  supplied  myself  next  day  with  apparatus  for  fish- 
ing and  hunting,  and  took  my  departure  for  Niagara  in 
fine  spirits. 

On  arriving  there,  I  engaged  a  room  at  the  Cataract 
House,  deposited  my  extra  luggage  in  it,  and  with  a  light 
heart  and  easy  mind  started  out  to  explore  the  curiosi- 
ties around  me.  I  was  returning  late  in  the  afternoon, 
having  penetrated  to  the  cave  of  ^Eolus,  with  the  sound 
of  the  rushing  waters  still  in  my  ears,  when  my  atten- 
tion was  attracted  by  two  persons  on  the  road  some 
yards  in  front  of  me. 

They  were  both  females,  one  tall  and  strong  in 
appearance,  the  other  slight  and  frail-looking.  As  I 
neared  them,  I  found  that  the  larger  one  of  the  two  was 
talking  in  a  loud  angry  voice,  and  that  the  other  was 
sobbing  as  if  frightened. 


24:  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

Just  at  the  moment  that  I  passed  them,  the  tall  wo- 
man caught  the  other  by  the  shoulders  and  shook  her 
most  violently,  stopping  her  in  the  path  as  she  did  so. 
I  glanced  at  them  in  turn.  Something  in  both  faces 
struck  me  as  being  familiar.  The  tall  woman  was  decid- 
edly a  servant  of  the  better  class,  well  dressed  and  self- 
sufficient  ;  the  other  a  delicate  girl,  a  lady  in  birth  and 
appearance,  beyond  a  doubt.  The  older  woman  never 
noticed  me ;  the  younger  threw  me  a  look  sorrowful  and 
supplicating  as  I  hurried  past.  Where  had  I  seen  those 
two  faces  before?  Where  had  I  met  those  soft  eyes,  so 
mournful  in  their  expression,  so  lovely  in  their  depth ? 
All  at  once  I  stood  still  in  the  path,  and  uttered  a  cry 
of  surprise.  It  had  all  flashed  upon  me  in  a  second. 
The  eyes  were  those  of  Arabella  Ferris,  and  the  woman 
was  the  servant  who  had  brought  her  into  the  room  the 
night  of  her  father's  death.  Shocked  at  my  discovery, 
I  sat  down  on  a  piece  of  rock  in  the  path,  and  awaited 
their  reappearance. 

I  had  no  fear  of  their  recognizing  me ;  in  the  six: 
years  that  had  gone  by  I  had  grown  stouter,  and  my 
heavy  beard  and  mustache  completely  hid  the  lower 
part  of  my  face.  I  had  passed  intimate  friends  without 
being  known  ;  there  was  little  danger  of  it  here. 

In  a  few  minutes  they  came  up  the  road  toward  me, 
and  I  noted  all  I  could  in  the  short  time  given  me. 
Miss  Ferris  was  plainly,  but  well  dressed.  Alas !  it 
was  not  her  dress  that  struck  me ;  but  her  face,  that  sent 
a  cold  chill  to  my  heart.  There  was  a  look  in  it  which 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   STRENGTHENED.     25 

conveyed  the  impression  that  the  mind  was  unsound ;  a 
curious, -inexplicable  expression,  a  mixture  of  vacancy 
and  wildness. 

"  Great  Heaven ! "  I  exclaimed  to  myself.  "  What 
have  they  done  to  her  ?  "  With  the  thought  came  the 
determination  to  find  out  the  mystery,  and,  grasping  my 
walking-stick  firmly,  I  rose  and  followed  the  retreating 
figures. 

What  was  my  surprise,  as  I  walked  along,  to  find 
them  bound  for  the  same  destination  as  myself!  They 
entered  the  house  before  me,  and  disappeared  through 
the  door  of  a  room  on  the  second  floor,  the  one  next 
to  my  own.  The  gong  was  sounding  for  dinner,  and  I 
don't  think  I  ever  made  a  more  rapid  toilet  in  my  life. 
I  succeeded  admirably,  and  having  learned  from  a 
waiter  where  JMiss  Ferris  usually  sat  at  her  meals,  I 
obtained  a  place  from  which  I  could  observe  all  that 
passed  at  the  table. 

I  was  just  seated  when  the  party  entered  the  room. 
Mrs.  Ferris  was  dressed  in  the  deepest  and  costliest 
mourning,  and  looked,  if  any  thing,  handsomer  than 
ever.  I  should  have  known  her  anywhere,  but  though 
she  caught  my  eye  observing  her,  there  was  no  answer- 
ing recognition  in  the  careless  glance  that  she  bestowed 
on  me.  She  had  only  seen  me  that  one  night  six  years 
before ;.  we  did  not  meet  at  the  funeral ;  and  she  had 
probably  forgotten  my  name,  too,  which  was  all  the 
better  for  my  plan. 

She  swept  with  a  stately  step  down  the  long  dining- 
2 


26  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOTE. 

room,  followed  by  glances  of  admiration  from  all  sides. 
Miss  Ferris,  also  in  black,  walked  in  a  slow,  hesitating 
way,  beside  the  stout  servant  whom  I  had  seen  with 
her  before  that  day.  The  woman  took  her  place  near 
her,  as  soon  as  she  was  seated,  and  waited  on  her  with  a 
show  of  attention  and  fond  care  that  never  deceived  me 
for  one  instant.  That  this  was  a  scene,  necessary  to  be 
acted  out,  in  the  deep  game  that  this  woman  was  play- 
ing, I  did  not  doubt. 

It  was  with  difficulty,  and  only  in  view  of  the  after 
consequences,  that  I  controlled  myself  from  breaking 
out  on  them,  then  and  there.  Such  a  sight  for  a  room 
full  of  eager  watchers  to  gaze  upon  ! 

The  girl,  or  rather  child,  for  she  was  one  in  manners, 
seemed  totally  ignorant  of  any  thing  that  could  be 
called  table  etiquette.  •  She  pulled  the  meat  apart  with 
her  fingers,  and  ate  with  them,  regardless  of  knife  and 
fork.  Any  thing  that  did  not  suit  her  was  pushed 
away,  half  across  the  table,  with  a  gesture  of  contempt 
rather  than  anger.  If  asked,  I  should  have  said  that 
she  was  under  the  influence  of  some  drug  or  stimulant. 
She  seemed  almost  unconscious  of  what  she  was  doin^, 

O  7 

and  there  was  something  unearthly  in  her  decided 
beauty.  Her  cheeks  were  flushed  to  deep  crimson,  and 
there  was  an  unnatural,  fearful  brilliancy  in  her  large 
dark  eyes,  once  so  soft  and  serene  in  their  expression. 
Her  delicate  features  were  sharp  and  attenuated,  as  if 
by  much  suffering ;  her  form  possessed  none  of  the  usual 
roundness  of  youth ;  it  was  thin  and  bent,  and  so  weak, 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ABE   STRENGTHENED.     27 

that  her  little  hands  trembled  visibly,  owing  to  her 
painful  nervousness. 

"  What  a  wreck  of  physical  beauty ! "  I  heard  a 
gentleman  observe  to  a  lady  beside  him. 

As  the  meal  progressed,  the  nurse  appeared  to  be 
endeavoring  to  restrain  her,  while  Mrs.  Ferris  wore  a 
look  of  sad  sympathy  and  despairing  love.  I  noticed, 
however,  that  her  grief  did  not  prevent  her  from  en- 
joying a  hearty  dinner.  Now  and  then,  a  glance  tow- 
ard Mrs.  Ferris  from  the  dark,  wild  eyes,  rather  indi- 
cated that  there  was  method  in  all  this  madness — such 
a  look  of  despair,  mingled  with  a  restless  gaze  at  the 
doors  and  windows,  as  if  she  were  meditating  an  escape 
from  this  fond  mother,  and  her  loving  care.  At  last 
the  strange  dinner-scene  came  to  an  end,  and  the  party 
rose  and  left  the  table  as  they  had  entered  the  room. 
As  I  walked  out,  the  waiter  remarked  to  me,  looking 
after  the  trio,  and  tapping  his  forehead,  "  She  is  totally 
gone,  a  perfect  idiot." 

I  shivered  at  the  look  and  the  words.  Mrs.  Ferris 
was  accomplishing  her  object.  The  present  perform- 
ance was  to  make  the  world  believe  that  the  girl  was 
insane.  What  would  be  the  next  move  ?  The  child 
did  not  look  as  if  this  struggle  could  last  very  long. 
Her  constitution,  naturally  frail,  was  undermined. 
The  physical  and  mental  forces  were  being  slowly  and 
surely  sapped.  "  What  will  be  the  end  ? "  I  asked 
myself,  as  I  slowly  walked  up  and  down  my  room. 
Should  I  write  to  Mr.  Masters?  Reason  told  me  it 


28  -  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

would  be  to  no  purpose.  He  was  powerless  under  the 
provisions  of  the  will.  What  could  be  done?  What 
could  we  prove  ?  Nothing.  There  was  no  proof  of  ill- 
treatment  on  the  part  of  Mrs.  Ferris,  and  there  was  no 
legal  way  of  taking  the  girl  out  of  her  custody.  The 
servant  was,  no  doubt  a  well-paid  sharer  of  her  mis- 
tress's confidence. 

The  debating  of  these  points  in  my  mind  made  me 
unconscious  of  the  time  slipping  away ;  and  when,  at 
last,  I  looked  at  my  watch,  I  saw  that  it  was  too  late  to 
carry  out  the  plan  that  I  had  laid  for  my  afternoon's 
amusement.  I  opened  my  valise,  and  was  busy  with 
my  flies  and  hooks,  when  voices,  rising  in  anger,  reached 
me  from  the  adjoining  room.  Two  were  loud  and 
threatening,  the  third  low  and  deprecating.  At  last 
there  came  a  smothered  cry,  followed  by  a  sound  of 
heavy  blows,  falling  rapidly.  I  started  to  my  feet  and 
ran  to  the  door  of  the  next  room.  The  handle  of  it  was 
in  my  hand,  when  again  strong  reason  came  to  my  aid. 
To  make  a  scene  at  that  time  would  do  no  permanent 
good,  and  might  prevent  its  possibility  forever. 

The  rooms  were  situated  at  the  end  of  a  long  corri- 
dor ;  no  one  had  been  attracted  by  the  noise,  so  I  went 
back  to  my  own,  and  listened  with  a  swelling  heart  to 
the  low  moans  caused  by  bodily  and  mental  suffering. 
A  short  time  after  a  firm  heavy  step  came  along  the  hall, 
and  a  gentleman  opened  my  door,  and  put  in  his  head. 

"Excuse  me,"  said  he.  "I  mistook  the  room;  it  is 
the  next  one,  I  think." 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   STRENGTHENED.     29 

.  "  All  right,"  I  exclaimed,  looking  up  hastily.  The 
moment  after,  I  heard  him  at  the  other  door,  asking  for 
Mrs.  Ferris. 

I  often  feel  thankful  for  my  strong  recollection  of 
names  and  faces.  This  gentleman  was  no  less  a  per- 
sonage than  Mr.  William  Parker,  co-trustee  of  Miss 
Ferris,  and  one  of  the  executors  of  her  father's  will. 

"  The  plot  thickens,"  I  said  to  myself,  and,  taking 
my  hat  in  ruy  hand,  I  sauntered  out  of  my  room  and 
down  the  corridor.  Sure  enough,  there  they  stood  to- 
gether, in  the  window  at  the  far  end  of  it,  so  closely  en- 
gaged in  conversation,  that  I  passed  them  unobserved, 
though  not  so  indifferent  myself  to  them.  He  had  his 
arm  around  her  waist,  half  supporting  her,  while  to- 
gether they  no  doubt  planned  the  next  move  on  the 
board.  At  supper  he  attended  her  to  the  table.  Miss 
Ferris  did  not  appear ;  but  Mrs.  Ferris  called  for  a  tray, 
and  prepared  with  her  own  hands,  and  to  the  admira- 
tion of  the  lookers-on,  a  sumptuous  supper  for  her  afflict- 
ed child,  which  was  carried  to  her  room  by  one  of  the 
waiters.  As  the  nurse  was  up  there  in  charge,  I  could 
guess  who  ate  it. 

Afterward,  passing  through  the  parlor,  I  saw  the 
pair  seated  on  a  sofa.  She  was  fanning  herself,  and 
talking  to  him  gayly. 

"  "Whatever  share  of  heart  she  possesses,"  I  thought, 
"is  his  decidedly.  She  loves  him  as  mucli  as  she  is 
capable  of  loving  any  one." 

"What  a  splendid-looking  couple!"  I  heard  some 


30  DR.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

one  remark,  in  reference  to  them,  as  I  passed  up  the 
stairs. 

The  next  morning  Mr.  Parker  escorted  Mi's.  Ferris 
to  the  breakfast-table.  She  looked  still  more  beautiful 
in  her  elaborate  white  dress.  The  young  lady  did  not 
appear.  The  same  farce  of  sending  her  a  nice  meal  was 
acted  over  again.  I  swallowed  mine,  hardly  conscious 
of  what  I  was  eating,  and,  leaving  them  still  at  the 
table,  went  to  my  own  room.  I  listened  for  a  while,  but 
could  hear  nothing  going  on  in  the  next  apartment; 
probably  the  poor  girl  was  asleep,  free  for  a  short 
time  from  her  troubles  and  misery. 

At  last  I  took  my  guide-book  and  a  stout  stick,  and 
left  my  room,  on  the  way  to  explore  further  the  beau- 
ties of  the  surrounding  country.  I  passed  Mr.  Parker 
and  Mrs.  Ferris,  strolling  together  up  and  down  the 
long  corridor.  What  would  I  have  given  to  know  the 
plans  they  were  discussing  so  eagerly  !  I  caught  one 
sentence,  as  I  passed,  that  fell  from  Mrs.  Ferris's  lips  : 

"  We  can  stay  in  Europe  two  years." 

I  repeated  this  over  and  over  to  myself,  as  I  ran 
down  the  stairs  and  out  into  the  road.  There  was  a 
meaning  in  that  sentence,  what  was  it  ?  Pondering  this 
question  in  my  mind,  I  reached  Goat  Island,  and  spent 
an  hour  there,  the  only  person  on  it,  as  far  as  I  could 
see. 

Stretched  on  the  grass,  my  face  to  the  vast  sheet  of 
foaming,  rushing  water,  and  hidden  by  a  rock  from  the 
notice  of  any  one  who  might  cross  the  bridge,  I  lay, 


IN  WHICH   MY  SUSPICIONS   ABE   STRENGTHENED.     31 

cnjoyiug  to"  the  fullest  extent  the  sublime  works  of  Na- 
ture surrounding  me  on  every  side.  A  delicious  sense 
of  rest  came  over  me,  caused  by  the  sweet  fresh  air,  the 
singing  and  chirping  of  the  birds,  the  perfume  of  the 
wild  flowers  bending  around  me  in  rich  profusion,  and 
the  exquisite  September  coloring  of  the  scenery.  From 
this  state  of  repose  I  was  suddenly  aroused  by  hearing 
a  voice  exclaiming  in  a  wild,  shrieking  tone — 

"  I  wish  I  were  dead ! " 

"  I  wish  you  were,  with  all  my  heart ;  you're  nothing 
but  a  torment  to  yourself,  arid  every  one  around  you ! " 
answered  a  coarse,  rude  voice. 

A  scream  and  a  struggle  made  me  spring  to  my  feet, 
only  to  see  a  slight,  agile  form,  with  outstretched  arms, 
flying  toward  the  rushing  rapids.  The  woman  stood 
as  if  petrified.  I  sprang  to  intercept  the  desperate  girl. 
She  had  reached  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  edge  of  the 
bank,  when  her  foot  caught  in  an  old  root  standing  up 
from  the  ground,  and  she  fell  heavily,  striking  her  head 
against  a  stone  that  lay  in  the  water.  I  raised  her  with 
some  difficulty,  for  she  was  partly  in  the  water,  and  I 
was  afraid  of  hurting  her.  She  was  insensible  from  the 
contusion  on  her  head,  and  I  feared  that  she  was  other- 
wise injured.  I  laid  the  pale,  worn  face  against  my 
breast,  and,  dipping  my  handkerchief  in  the  cool  water, 
placed  it  on  her  head,  trying  to  restore  her  to  conscious- 
ness. 

The  woman  stood  by,  looking  at  me,  but  not  at- 
tempting to  offer  any  assistance.  There  was  a  sati>lii'«l 


32  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

expression  on  her  face,  which  changed  to  dne  of  vexa- 
tion as  the  poor  child  opened  her  eyes  and  stared  wild- 
ly around  her. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  she  asked,  gazing  at  me  wearily. 

Before  I  could  answer,  the  woman  replied  roughly : 
"Just  wait  till  I  tell  your  mother  what  you've  been 
up  to." 

The  young  girl  shivered  from  head  to  foot. 

"  You  have  had  a  bad  fall,"  I  said  gently,  "  but  you 
will  soon  recover."  , 

She  shivered  again  and  looked  about  her,  as  if  medi- 
tating another  attempt  on  her  own  life. 

"  Come,  Miss  Ferris,  get  up ;  you'd  better  come  home 
and  put  on  dry  clothes  before  your  mother  sees  you," 
said  the  servant  in  a  soothing  tone.  She  was  recollect- 
ing herself. 

I  lifted  the  young  lady  to  her  feet,  but  she  tottered, 
and  would  have  fallen,  had  I  not  put  my  arm  around 
her. 

"I  am  afraid  she  has  hurt  herself  very  badly,"  I 
said  to  the  nurse.  "  We  must  carry  her  to  the  hotel." 

"I  am  sure  you  are  very  kind,  sir,"  she  answered 
in  a  smooth,  servile  tone.  "  Mrs.  Ferris  will  be  obliged 
to  you,  for  she  dotes  on  the  child,  though  indeed  she  is 
nothing  but  a  trouble  to  her.  She  is  out  of  her  mind, 
sir,  entirely." 

Miss  Ferris  seemed  quite  indifferent  to  this  speech. 
She  was  leaning  heavily  on  iny  arm,  her  eyes  closed  as 
if  in  pain. 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AKE   STRENGTHENED.      33 

"  Try  and  walk  a  little,"  the  woman  went  on,  turn- 
ing to  her  and  taking  her  by  the  arm  as  she  spoke. 

"I  can't,  Susan,  my  side  hurts  me  so  much,"  was 
the  answer  in  a  low  weak  voice.  The  wild  fit  was 
over ;  Miss  Ferris  was  suffering  terribly  from  the  effects 
of  hep  fall.  I  lifted  her  in  my  arms,  and  after  frequent 
rests  we  reached  the  hotel.  Miss  Ferris  did  not  speak 
on  the  way;  now  and  then  a  low  moan  would  escape 
her,  and  several  times  I  observed  her  looking  fixedly 
at  my  face,  a  troubled  eager  expression  in  her  eyes. 

The  servant  walked  along  by  my  side,  not  volun- 
teering any  remark,  and  I  shrank  from  exhibiting  any 
curiosity  by  asking  questions.  She  looked  gloomy  and 
cross,  and  I  was  afraid  of  exciting  her  anger  against 
the  helpless  creature  that  I  was  carrying.  On  arriving 
at  the  house,  we  found  that  Mrs.  Ferris  was  out  riding, 
and  so  I  carried  her  daughter  up-stairs  and  laid  her  on 
the  sofa  in  her  own  room. 

"  I  am  a  doctor,"  I  said  to  the  nurse,  "  and  if  you 
should  require  me,  I  am  in  the  next  room ;  at  present 
you  had  better  put  her  in  bed,  and  keep  wet  linen  on 
her  forehead." 

Going  into  my  own  apartment,  I  made  up  my  mind 
that  the  servant  would  not  have  been  very .  sorry  if 
Miss  Ferris  had  succeeded  in  her  design.  I  began  to 
think  that  I  was  fated  to  be  in  some  way  connected 
with  the  strange  family  so  curiously  met  six  years 
before.  If  they  should  need  my  further  services,  I 
thought  it  would  never  do  to  tell  them  my  real  name ; 
2* 


34:  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

it  might  bring  me  to  their  recollection;  then,  again,  I 
determined  to  risk  it — they  might  never  have  heard  it. 
I  was  roused  from  this  reverie  by  the  sound  of  horses' 
feet,  and  a  light  laugh  floating  in  through  the  open 
window.  Mr.  Parker  and  Mrs.  Ferris  had  been  taking 
a  ride  that  fine  morning,  and  were  just  returned. 

Soon  after  she  passed  my  door,  her  habit  gathered 
up  in  one  hand  and  her  whip  in  the  other.  In  her 
room  I  heard  a  low  hum  of  voices — a  history,  no  doubt, 
of  the  morning's  adventure.  I  was  dressed  for  dinner, 
when  a  waiter  brought  me  up  a  note. 

"  Mrs.  Ferris  will  be  happy  to  meet  in  the  parlor, 
before  dinner,  the  gentleman  who  so  kindly  rescued  her 
daughter  this  morning." 

On  going  down,  she  was  standing  waiting  for  me, 
in  a  very  pretty  attitude,  which  displayed  to  much  ad- 
vantage her  fine  figure.  I  bowed,  and  announced  my- 
self, "  Dr.  Wilmer,  of  Buffalo."  She  took  no  notice  of 
the  name,  but  asked  me  my  opinion  of  her  daughter's 
state  of  health.  If  I  had  not  been  prepared  for  her,  she 
would  have  won  me  over  in  ten  minutes,  a  firm  believer 
in  her  statement;  as  it  was,  I  had  to  admire  the  hy- 
pocrisy and  cunning  she  exhibited.  I  felt  like  applaud- 
ing, as  we  do  when  we  see  some  fine  piece  of  acting 
on  the  stage. 

Her  poor  little  Belle  had  lost  her  reason  partially, 
owing  to  a  terrible  attack  of  scarlet  fever. 

"  What  age  was  she  at  that  time  ?  "  I  asked. 

"She  was  not  quite  six,"  was  the  answer,  so  ready, 


IN   WniCH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   STRENGTHENED.     35 

that  it  was  evident  her  whole  story  was  one  well 
studied  for  strangers'  ears.  She  thanked  me  over  and 
over  again  for  what  I  had  done  that  morning,  saying, 
with  tears  in  her  eyes,  that  her  heart  was  bound  up  ia 
her  child,  weak-minded  as  she  was.  Then  she  sounded 
me  on  another  point.  "  Would  you  advise  me  to  place 
her  in  a  private  asylum  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all,"  I  answered,  "  as  long  as  she  is  quiet 
and  harmless." 

"  I  have  been  urged  to  do  it  by  a  number  of  my 
friends,  and  so  far  I  have  shrunk  from  it  as  being  a  last 
resource.  But  you  see,  doctor,  when  what  occurred 
this  morning  may  be  repeated"  (here  she  shuddered) 
"  any  time,  what  am  I  to  do  ?  She  never  made  an  at- 
tempt to  destroy  herself  before,  but  this  has  terrified 
me.  There  are  so  many  ways  by  which  she  could  ac- 
complish it,  and  then  I  am  obliged  to  be  in  constant 
communication  with  our  family  physician  about  her 
treatment.  He  insists  on  country  air,  and  I  have  been 
travelling  Avith  her  all  summer." 

"  Does  he  consider  her  incurable  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,"  she  sighed,  raising  her  handkerchief  to  her 
eyes. 

"  Have  you  every  confidence  in  his  skill  ?  "  I  inquired, 
determined  to  sound  her  in  turn. 

"Most  entire  confidence,"  was  the  answer.  "Put- 
ting aside  his  long  experience  in  such  cases,  he  has 
attended  her  all  her  life,  and  is  quite  interested  in  her; 
besides,  he  understands  her  constitution  perfectly." 


36  DR.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

I  was  not  prepared  for  this  last  falsehood ;  of  course 
the  wonderful  family  physician  was  a  myth,  a  creature 
of  the  imagination,  an  organ  very  largely  developed  in 
Mrs.  Ferris's  head. 

"  Of  course,"  I  said,  rising,  "  in  that  case  I  would  not 
interfere ;  if  you  were  without  medical  advice,  I  should 
gladly  undertake  the  charge,  but — " 

"  But,  doctor,"  she  interposed,  "  you  forget  that  the 
circumstance  of  this  morning  makes  it  necessary  for  me 
to  have  some  one  here  to  advise  with,  and  of  course  I 
could  not  expect  him  to  leave  his  duties  for  her  sake. 
If  you  will  undertake  to  attend  her,  in  case  any  thing 
dangerous  should  result  from  this  fall,  until  I  am  able  to 
hear  from  our  regular  physician,  I  shall  be  satisfied." 

"It  is  a  responsibility,  but  I  am  willing  to  remain  at 
your  service,  if  necessary,"  I  answered. 

"  You  will  remember,  however,"  she  remarked,  with 
a  curious  expression  in  her  face,  "that  it  is  only  her 
physical  health  you  will  have  to  do  with ;  her  mental 
condition  must  remain  under  the  charge  of  the  gentle- 
man whom  I  have  already  mentioned." 

She  bowed  gracefully,  and  left  the  room.  I  took  my 
accustomed  seat  at  dinner,  and  watched  her  and  her 
friend  Mr.  Parker  as  narrowly  as  good-breeding  would 
permit ;  perhaps  I  did  overstep  the  bounds,  but  my  sus- 
picions must  excuse  me.  Afterward  I  was  introduced 
to  him  in  the  parlor,  and  then,  satisfied  that  there  had 
been  no  recognition  on  his  part,  I  went  up  to  my  room 
to  await  events.  I  read  for  some  hours,  trying  with  all 


IN  WniCH   MY    SUSPICIONS   AEE   STRENGTHENED.     37 

my  strength  to  concentrate  my  thoughts  on  the  subject 
before  me,  a  work  which  was  at  first  very  difficult  to 
succeed  in,  for  my  ideas  would  wander  off  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Miss  Ferris  and  her  guardian,  and  I  would  dis- 
cover my  book  before  me,  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  de- 
grees, and  my  eyes  gazing  upward,  seeing  nothing.  At 
last,  just  as  I  had  succeeded  in  comprehending  one  page 
of  the  book,  a  tap  came  on  the  door,  and  opening  it,  I 
saw  Susan,  the  nurse,  standing  before  me  with  a  fright- 
ened face. 

"  She  has  a  dreadful  fever,  sir,  and  we  can't  quiet 
her;  won't  you  come  and  see  her?" 

"  Has  she  been  asleep  at  all  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  ever  since,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

I  found  my  patient  burning  with  fever,  and  talking 
incoherently;  her  cheeks  crimson,  and  her  eyes  bril- 
liant. She  was  suffering  from  the  bruise  on  her  head 
principally,  although  her  side,  the  nurse  informed  me, 
was  dreadfully  hurt.  She  was  quite  unable  to  move 
without  help,  and,  while  I  held  her  hand  in  mine,  her 
ravings  became  worse  and  worse,  until  at  last,  Mrs. 
Ferris,  who  all  this  time  had  sat  near  her,  rose  with  a 
frightened  expression  of  face  and  withdrew  to  a  part  of 
the  room  some  distance  from  the  bed.  Strange  to  say, 
my  patient  became  gradually  more  calm,  and  at  last 
sank  into  an  uneasy  sleep,  out  of  which  I  charged  them  on 
no  account  to  disturb  her.  Mrs.  Ferris  took  up  a  book ; 
and,  leaving  word  to  call  me  when  she  wakened,  I  with- 
drew to  my  own  room.  In  half  an  hour  I  was  sent  foi 


38  DR.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

again ;  she  was  worse  than  ever,  and  as  I  entered  the 
room  I  felt  sure  that  I  detected  a  faint  odor  of  brandy ; 
still  there  was  no  sign  of  it  whatever  about  the  place. 

"  Did  she  waken  in  this  condition  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  ready  answer. 

"  You  have  given  her  brandy,"  I  said,  looking  full  in 
the  nurse's  face.  "  What  was  that  for  ?  " 

"She  always  takes  it,"  answered  Mrs.  Ferris.  "It 
was  ordered  for  her,  and  I  thought,  in  her  weak  state, 
that  it  Avould  be  wrong  to  omit  giving  it  to  her." 

"  She  was  in  no  condition  to  take  a  stimulant,"  I  an- 
swered ;  "  you  should  not  have  given  it  without  consult- 
ing me.  That  accounts  for  the  state  she  is  in  now." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  Mrs.  Ferris  said,  "  but  we  have 
become  so  used  to  treating  her  according  to  the  rules 
given  us,  that  I  never  thought  of  it  doing  her  any 
harm." 

"  It  must  not  occur  again,"  I  said  sternly ;  "  her  con- 
dition is  a  very  critical  one,  and  if  I  assume  the  respon- 
sibility of  it,  my  directions  must  be  followed  without 
any  deviation  whatever." 

"'Of  course  they  shall  be  :  the  mistake  was  a  careless 
one ;  but  you  know,  we  don't  understand  just  what  to 
do,"  Mrs.  Ferris  answered,  looking  very  sorrowful  and 
anxious. 

"  Will  you  want  this  ?  "  asked  the  servant,  putting  a 
large  vial  of  laudanum  before  me. 

"Is  she  accustomed  to  using  it?"  I  asked,  very 
quietly. 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ABE   STRENGTHENED.     39 

"Oh,  yes,  sir,  she  takes  it  constantly;  she  would 
never  rest  only  for  it,"  was  the  answer. 

"  The  opiate  I  have  given  her,"  I  said,  "  is  quite  suffi- 
cient for  the  present,  and  remember  on  no  account  must 
you  give  her  any  thing  without  my  advice." 

Again  I  left  the  girl  asleep  and  comparatively  easy. 
At  supper-time  she  still  slept,  and  Mrs.  Ferris  appeared 
at  the  table,  and  afterward  went  out  for  a  short  walk 
with  Mr.  Parker,  according  to  my  advice,  leaving  her 
daughter  under  the  care  of  the  nurse  and  myself.  I 
managed  it  very  well  altogether,  for  I  sent  the  servant 
to  a  distant  part  of  the  room,  telling  her  that  she  had 
been  too  much  confined  that  day,  attending  on  her 
charge ;  and  then  sat  down  quietly  to  look  at  my  poor 
patient,  and  ponder  the  chances  for  her  life.  I  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  they  were  very  slight  indeed.  -The 
naturally  delicate  organization  had  been  fearfully  prac- 
tised upon.  If  I  could  only  keep  her  long  enough  under 
treatment  for  her  fall,  to  permit  of  her  mind  becoming 
stronger,  it  might  be  possible  to  prove  ill-usage  on  the 
part  of  the  step-mother,  and  take  her  out  of  her  power ; 
as  she  was,  such  a  proceeding  was  beyond  all  possibility. 

Mrs.  Ferris  and  Mr.  Parker  had  every  thing  their 
own  way,  and  were  quite  conscious  of  the  fact.  If  this 
state  of  things  were  to  continue  very  long,  the  girl 
would  soon  become  a  helpless  imbecile.  Thinking  over 
these  things,J  looked  up,  to  find  my  patient  lying  awake, 
Avitli  her  eyes  fixed  on  my  face. 

"  I  remember  you  now — where  am  I  ?  "  she  asked,  in 


40  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

a  voice  too  low  and  weak  to  be  heard  by  the  nurse,  with 
her  head  out  of  the  distant  window. 

"  You  are  in  your  own  room,  and  you  remember  see- 
ing me  this  morning  after  you  fell." 

"  No,  no,  I  have  seen  you  some  place  before."  She 
thought  a  moment,  and  then  a  bright  smile  broke  over 
her  face  and  lit  it  up.  "  I  know  now — the  night  papa 
died,  and  afterward,  one  day  in  the  street." 

"  You  must  not  let  either  your  mother,  or  anybody 
else  that  you  see  here,  know  that  you  remember  me," 
I  whispered.  "Spenk  very  low — the  nurse  is  in  the 
room." 

"  I  understand  you,"  she  replied.  "  Oh,  if  you  could 
only  know  what  I  suffer !  They  make  me  drink  things 
that  set  me  wild,  so  that  I  don't  know  what  I  am  say- 
ing or  doing ;  people  think  I  am  insane,  you  know  better. 
Please  take  me  away  from  them." 

"  If  you  will  do  as  I  tell  you,  and  try  to  grow  strong, 
that  is  the  only  w^ay  before  you.  I  can  do  nothing 
without  your  help,  and  I  must  be  able  to  prove  that 
you  are  perfectly  sane  before  I  can  take  a  single  step 
for  your  benefit." 

"What  must  I  do?"  she  murmured.  "Why  did 
papa  leave  me  to  her  ?  She  hates  me,  and  always  did." 

"  Yes,  but  she  deceived  him  completely.  You  must 
stay  here  as  long  as  you  can  ;  don't  let  them  think  that 
you  can  walk  or  be  removed.  Make  the  most  of  your 
fall  until  your  mind  is  steadier ;  don't  walk  till  I  give 
you  leave." 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   STRENGTHENED.     41 

The  handle  of  the  door  turned  at  this  moment,  and 
I  put  my  finger  to  my  lips.  She  closed  her  eyes  as  Mrs. 
Ferris  entered.  Mr.  Parker  evidently  had  his  part  to 
play ;  to  the  mere  spectator  he  was  only  an  admirer 
of  Mrs.  Ferris,  not  at  all  interested  in  her  unfortunate 
daughter.  Having  explained  to  her  how  much  better 
her  child  was,  and  left  directions  for  her  treatment 
during  the  night,  I  went  out  for  a  stroll  in  the  fresh  air, 
perfectly  astonished  at  what  had  just  passed.  After 
all  those  years,  this  child  had  known  my  features ;  my 
name  she  probably  had  never  heard.  I  concluded  that 
her  mind  was  still  strong  enough  to  insure  a  perfect 
recovery,  much  more  so  than  I  had  dared  to  hope,  and 
that  her  wild  fits  were  the  effects  of  the  stimulants  they 
made  her  swallow.  How  long  I  remained  out  I  don't 
know ;  I  thought  of  schemes  and  plans  without  number 
by  which  to  circumvent  the  designs  of  this  extraor- 
dinary woman,  who  had  surely  sold  herself  for  the 
coveted  prize,  her  husband's  entire  property. 

Going  back  to  the  house,  I  looked  in  on  my  patient. 
She  was  sound  asleep.  Mrs.  Ferris  was  reading,  and 
the  nurse  was  sewing,  so  I  retired  to  my  room  satisfied 
with  the  course  of  events.  The  next  morning  Miss 
Ferris  was  much  better,  but  quite  unable  to  walk.  I 
left  orders  for  her  treatment  that  day,  and  then  went 
out  for  a  long  ramble,  feeling  sure  that  she  was  safe  for 
a  short  time  from  further  attempts  on  her  mental 
health,  owing  to  the  remarks  I  had  made ;  and  wishing, 
besides,  to  lull  all  suspicions  of  what  I  might  think  that 


would  naturally  arise  in  such  cunning  minds.  I  knew 
that,  once  they  suspected  me  of  understanding  or  doubt- 
ing them,  iny  power  was  lost  forever.  Thus  matters 
went  on  for  some  days,  and  that  they  were  afraid  of  me 
I  saw  clearly.  Miss  Ferris  still  remained  unable  to 
walk,  but  her  eyes  were  soft  and  natural,  and  I  knew 
that  she  was  improving  fast,  altogether  too  much  so  for 
them.  "We  had  been  too  closely  watched  to  allow  of 
any  private  conversation  together,  and  so,  a  quiet  pres- 
sure of  her  hand,  and  a  significant  glance  every  time  I 
felt  her  pulse,  were  all  the  secret  signs  of  our  counter- 
conspiracy  that  we  could  venture  upon.  In  speaking 
to  her,  I  spoke  as  if  tt>  a  person  of  weak  mind,  and  loud 
enough  for  all  in  the  room  to  hear  me. 

One  day,  about  two  weeks  after  her  fall,  I  went  into 
the  room  and  found  her  sitting  in  an  arm-chair  near  the 
window.  Her  hands  lay  idle  in  her  lap,  and  the  whole 
expression  of  her  face  was  one  of  intense  weariness  and 
listlessness.  As  she  saw  me,  it  suddenly  changed  to  a 
bright,  eager  one ;  every  feature  was  lit  up  with  intelli- 
gence, while  a  smile,  beautiful  in  its  effect,  dimpled  for 
a  moment  her  flushed  cheeks.  For  the  second  that  it 
lasted  she  was  again  the  same  pretty  child  who  had 
thrown  me  that  bright  glance  years  before;  the  next 
moment  Mrs.  Ferris  came  in,  and  my  patient  sank 
back  the  listless,  weary  victim,  I  was  accustomed  to 
seeing. 

"  Why  haven't  you  a  book  ?  "  I  asked  quietly,  as  I 
took  her  hand  and  sat  down  beside  her.  Mrs.  Ferris 


IN  \VHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   STRENGTHENED.     43 

standing  thinking  in  a  distant  window,  did  not  hear  the 
question. 

"  I  can't  read,"  was  the  answer ;  "  I  have  had  no 
teacher  since  papa  died." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  I  remarked,  almost  unconsciously, 
in  my  surprise. 

"  Is  it  a  wonder  that  I  am  nearly  crazy  ?  But  for 
you,  and  what  you  have  promised  me,  I  would  feel  like 
doing  again  what  I  tried  a  short  time  ago.  Sometimes 
I  am  mad  when  I  think  of  myself,  and  the  terrible  trap 
I  am  in ;  then  again,  I  feel  that  there  is  no  hope  for 
escape,  and  I  long  for  death  to  end  this  misery.  Mrs. 
Ferris  will  tell  you  that  they  are  the  two  phases  of  my 
insanity,  as  she  tells  every  one  that  sees  me." 

••My  poor  child,"  I  said,  "only  be  patient.  Try 
and  control  yourself,  and  I  will  do  all  that  I  can ;  see  how 
much  better  you  are  already  for  these  two  weeks  of  rest." 

"  Yes,  but  how  long  will  it  last  ?" 

She  put  her  hands  over  her  face  and  cried  softly, 
completely  overpowered  by  the  sense  of  her  own  hope- 
less, helpless  position. 

Mrs.  Ferris,  attracted  by  the  sound,  now  came  tow- 
ard us  with  a  sharp  glance  at  me. 

u  Miss  Ferris  has  been  too  much  alone,"  I  remarked, 
"  she  is  dispirited  with  her  long  confinement  in  this 
room.  We  must  try  and  get  her  out  for  a  short  time; 
the  change  will  be  good  for  her." 

The  sharp  look  changed  to  one  of  studied  concern. 
Mrs.  Ferris  put  her  arm  round  the  shrinking  figure. 


44  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

"  We  must  take  her  for  a  ride,  doctor,  if  you  think 
she  will  be  able,  this  afternoon." 

"  By  all  means,"  I  said,  "  and  repeat  it  every  after- 
noon, if  this  does  not  fatigue  her  too  much." 

Miss  Ferris  now  looked  up,  and  Avith  a  few  cheerful, 
encouraging  words,  I  bade  her  "  good-morning." 

For  three  or  four  days  after  that  interview  I  was  un- 
able to  secure  a  word  alone  with  my  patient ;  the  watch 
was  sure,  though  unobtrusive.  However,  she  steadily 
improved,  and  rode  out  every  afternoon,  her  mother 
beside  her  in  the  carriage,  her  nurse  opposite.  At  last, 
one  morning,  having  made  my  accustomed  visit,  Mr?. 
Ferris  followed  me  out  of  the  room,  and  having  thanked 
me  for  my  attention  and  skill,  asked  for  my  account.  I 
was  not  surprised ;  it  was  just  the  move  I  anticipated. 
Having  complied  with  her  request,  my  visits  to  Miss 
Ferris  ceased,  and  our  old  positions  were  resumed. 
Miss  Ferris,  however,  was  very  quiet  when  at  the  public 
table,  acting  very  much  as  those  around  her  did,  and 
now  and  then  we  interchanged  a  few  words  on  general 
topics;  but  once  the  meal  was  over,  I  only  caught 
glimpses  of  her  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  Mrs.  Ferris,  on 
the  contrary,  took  particular  pains  to  talk  to  me,  and 
always  met  me  with  a  fascinating  smile  and  an  agreeable 
manner,  never  leaving  me  without  going  over  what  I 
had  done  for  her  dear  child,  and  thanking  me  again  and 
again  for  the  visible  improvement  in  her  health,  caused 
by  my  skilful  treatment. 

One  fine  morning  Miss  Ferris  did  not  come  down  to 


Df  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   STRENGTHENED.     45 

breakfast.  "  She  was  not  at  all  indisposed,"  her  mother 
said,  "  only  tired  and  unwilling  to  make  any  exertion." 
Her  breakfast  was  sent  to  her,  and  after  walking  irreso- 
lutely up  and  down  my  room,  debating  some  means  of 
obtaining  an  interview  with  her,  I  took  my  hat  and  left 
the  house,  passing  purposely  the  window  generally 
chosen  by  Mr.  Parker  and  Mrs.  Ferris  for  their  daily 
council  of  two.  They  saw  me,  as  I  intended  they  should, 
and  as  I  raised  my  hat  Mrs.  Ferris  bestowed  on  me  one 
of  her  most  fascinating  smiles.  I  remained  out  a  longer 
time  than  I  had  intended,  for,  rambling  along,  cogita- 
ting many  things  in  my  mind,  I  lost  my  way,  and  in 
trying  to  retrace  my  steps  I  came  upon  so  many  new 
beauties  of  scenery,  wild  flowers,  and  artistic  effects, 
that  I  forgot  myself  in  my  almost  childish  delight,  and 
remained  contemplating  them,  entirely  unmindful  of  the 
time  that  was  passing  away.  At  last  I  reached  the 
hotel  tired  out,  and  sat  down  for  a  rest  in  the  hall-way. 
My  communicative  friend,  the  waiter,  coming  along 
with  the  gong  in  his  hand,  gave  me  an  inquisitive  look 
before  he  commenced  his  artistic  efforts  on  its  surface. 
At  last,  having  given  the  concluding  touch  with  a 
graceful  flourish  of  his  arm,  he  drew  near  me  and  caught 
my  eye. 

"  They're  all  gone,  sir." 

"  What !  Who  are  all  gone  ?  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 
I  asked,  struck  by  his  remark. 

"  Why,  Mrs.  Ferns  and  her  sick  daughter;  they  left 
just  after  breakfast." 


4:6  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

For  a  moment  I  was  too  much  surprised  to  speak ;  at 
last  I  found  understanding  and  breath  at  the  same  time. 
"  Where  did  they  go  ?  did  you  hear  ?  " 
"  No,  sir,  not  a  word ;  they  did  it  all  very  quickly 
and  very  quietly,"  was  the  answer. 
"  Who  took  them  to  the  station  ?  " 
"  One  of  our  men  ;  he  is  in  the  stable  now." 
"Did  you  notice  Miss  Ferris,  whether  she  looked 
strong  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  She  had  such  a  thick  veil  on,  sir,  I  couldn't  catch  a 
sight  of  her  face,  but  James  says  that  he  knows  she 
didn't  want  to  go,  because  she  cried  all  the  way  to  the 
cars ;  however,  as  the  poor  thing  is  mad,  perhaps  she 
didn't  know  where  she  was  going,  or  what  she  was  cry- 
ing for." 

I  didn't  answer  this  last  proposition,  but  went  to  the 
stables  in  search  of  James.  I  found  him  in  the  centre 
of  a  group  describing  how  he  drove  "  the  poor  young 
woman  that  was  out  of  her  mind  entirely,"  to  the  cars, 
and  how  they  had  to  lift  her  in  by  force,  while  she  kept 
calling  on  the  doctor  to  save  her.  Seeing  me,  James 
lowered  his  voice  at  once  and  came  forward.  I  drew 
him  aside,  and  learned  that  the  trunks  had  been  checked 
through  for  New  York.  This  was  all  I  cared  to  hear. 
I  started  for  Buffalo  that  afternoon,  arranged  for  a 
longer  absence  than  I  had  at  first  intended,  and  leaving 
my  shooting  and  fishing  apparatus  in  care  of  Mrs. 
Marks,  I  took  the  first  train  going  east,  with  a  bitter 
feeling  of  having  been  outwitted  very  cleverly.  I  heard 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   STRENGTHENED.     47 

of  them  all  along  the  route  till  we  reached  New  York ; 
there  I  lost  them.  In  that  busy,  noisy,  rushing  place,  a 
small  party,  probably  divided  on  purpose,  would  attract 
no  notice  whatever. 

My  first  point  was  Mr.  Master's  office,  so  I  put  up  at 
a  quiet  house,  looked  out  his  number  in  the  directory, 
and  then  started  for  the  place.  I  found  no  one  in  but  a 
nice-looking  lad  of  fourteen,  who  was  dusting  out  the 
place.  He  told  me  that  Mr.  Masters  had  been  travel- 
ling all  summer,  and  was  not  expected  home  till  Novem- 
ber ;  Mr.  Price,  his  partner,  would  attend  to  any  thing 
I  might  have  to  say.  Here  was  a  dilemma.  Of  what 
use  could  Mr.  Price  be  to  me  ?  Probably  he  had  never 
heard  of  Mrs.  Ferris.  I  explained  that  it  was  private 
business,  to  which  Mr.  Masters  alone  could  attend. 
"  Well,  he  could  give  me  an  address,  but  it  was  very 
unlikely  that  the  letter  would  ever  reach  Mr.  Masters, 
as  he  was  never  in  one  place  for  any  length  of  time." 
There  was  a  pile  of  letters,  directed  to  Mr.  Masters,  on 
his  private  desk,  awaiting  his  return.  However,  I  de- 
termined to  risk  it,  and  so  I  wrote  a  short,  distinct 
account  of  what  had  taken  place  during  the  few  weeks 
just  past,  recalled  myself  to  his  memory,  and  begged 
of  him  to  return  at  once  to  New  York,  where  I  would 
await  him.  Having  directed  it,  I  posted  it  at  once,  and 
then  commenced  a  general  search  at  every  hotel  and 
boarding-house  in  the  city  likely  to  contain  Mrs.  Ferris 
and  he*  unfortunate  step-daughter. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

IN  WDICn  MY  SUSPICIONS  ARE   COSTFIRMED. . 

FOR  three  weeks  I  spent  my  time  as  follows :  visit- 
ing Mr.  Masters'  office,  only  to  learn  "  that  he  was  not 
at  home  nor  had  they  heard  from  him ; "  examining  hotel 
registers,  going  to  every  house  that  contained  any  one 
named  Ferris,  according  to  the  directory ;  and  peering 
into  every  carriage  and  under  every  bonnet  that  I  met 
in  my  long  walks.  All  without  success ;  I  was  becom- 
ing thin  from  anxiety  and  disappointment.  The  boy  in 
Mr.  Masters'  office  must  have  concluded  that  I  was  a 
harmless  sort  of  lunatic.  At  first  he  condescended  to 
answer  my  inquiries,  and  proposed  Mr.  Price  as  an  ad- 
viser. Finding  his  counsel  of  no  use,  he  gradually 
ceased  in  his  attentions  to  me,  until  at  last,  he  would 
look  up  from  his  occupation  as  I  would  open  the  door, 
shake  his  head  in  anticipation  of  the  usual  question, 
and  then  return  to  it  without  bestowing  on  me  another 
glance. 

Fortunately  for  myself,  I  had  recognized,  one  evening, 
in  a  gentleman  standing  on  the  steps  of  the  St.  Nicholas 


m   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   CONFIRMED.          49 

Hotel,  an  old  chum  of  mine,  Harry  Weston  by  name, 
who  was  on  from  Richmond  for  a  few  weeks  of  New 
York  entertainment.  "We  spent  an  evening  together 
very  often,  comparing  experiences,  and  amusing  our- 
selves with  reminiscences  of  old  times.  In  my  anxious 
state  of  mind  I  was  always  glad  to  meet  him,  for  being 
a  light-hearted,  merry  fellow,  without  a  care  in  the 
world,  he  generally  relieved  me  of  a  portion  of  my  de- 
spondency, and  succeeded  in  imbuing  me  with  some  of 
his  own  buoyancy  of  spirit. 

One  morning,  in  the  early  part  of  November,  I 
opened  the  door  of  Mr.  Masters'  office,  and  looked  up 
in  anticipation  of  the  usual  negative  shake  to  which  I 
had  become  so  accustomed.  To  my  joyful  surprise, 
there  at  his  desk  sat  Mr.  Masters,  looking  very  fresh 
and  ruddy,  as  though  his  vacation  had  agreed  with 
him.  He  was  so  intent  on  a  letter  which  he  held  before 
him,  that  I  had  advanced  almost  to  his  side  before  he 
looked  off  it  and  glanced  at  me. 

I  held  out  my  hand  and  asked  him,  "  Do  you.  remem- 
ber me?" 

He  hesitated  a  moment,  as  if  trying  to  place  me ; 
but  the  instant  I  mentioned  the  name  of  Ferris,  a  bright 
smile  broke  over  his  face,  and  he  grasped  my  hand  with 
a  warmth  of  manner  and  a  word  of  welcome,  that  no 
doubt  astonished  the  office-boy,  who  happened  to  be 
the  only  witness  of  the  scene. 

"You  are  the  very  man  of  all  others  that  I  want- 
ed ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  find  me  puzzled  to  death  over 
3 


50  DE.  WILMEE'B  LOVE. 

a  letter  from  our  old  acquaintance  Mrs.  Ferris.  It 
would  take  me  a  month  to  tell  you  of  the  life  she  has 
led  "me  these  last  six  years.  What  do  you  think  she 
has  done  now  ?  I  have  been  trying  for  three  years  to 
see  Arthur  Ferris's  child,  without  success.  Here  is  a 
letter  in  which  she  tells  me,  '  that  her  poor  unfortunate 
child  is  in  such  a  broken  state  of  health,  that  it  is 
necessary  to  take  her  to  Europe  for  two  or  three  years,' 
and  she  is  gone  a  month !  This  letter  has  been  lying 
here  all  that  time." 

I  was  so  shocked,  that  the  expression  of  my  face 
caught  the  old  gentleman's  attention. 

"  There  is  something  the  matter,"  he  said ;  "  you 
suspect  something — what  is  it  ?  " 

I  told  him  what  had  brought  me  to  New  York,  and 
detained  me  in  the  city  so  long.  The  effect  of  my  story 
was  terrible  on  him.  All  at  once  the  plot  lay  clear 
before  him. 

For  years  she  had  so  managed,  that  Mr.  Masters  had 
never  once  seen  his  ward.  Now  she  had  taken  her 
completely  out  of  his  reach,  as  there  was  no  direc- 
tion given  in  the  letter  to  which  he  could  write;  the 
apology  being,  that  her  plans  were  unsettled,  and  that 
as  soon  as  possible  she  would  communicate  with  him 
again.  I  read  her  letter  over  and  over  very  carefully. 
It  was  cautious,  and  apparently  perfectly  open  in  its 
tenor.  She  explained  that  Arabella's  health  was  very 
unsatisfactory ;  that  she  had  travelled  all  over  the  coun- 
try to  benefit  her,  but  without  success,  and  that  a  cele- 


IN   WHICH  MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   CONFIRMED.          51 

brated  physician  of  Buffalo,  whom  she  had  consulted, 
had  at  once  recommended  a  sea-voyage,  and  a  residence 
iu  the  south  of  Europe,  until  her  health  should  be  com- 
pletely reestablished.  On  arriving  in  New  York  she 
had  been  unable  to  see  him  (Mr.  Masters),  but  Mr.  Par- 
ker, whom  she  had  consulted  all  through  the  affair,  ap- 
proved of  the  plan.  She  would  have  awaited  his  return, 
but  in  view  of  the  rapidly  failing  strength  of  her 
daughter,  she  had  been  obliged  to  waive  all  her  own 
wishes,  and  think  only  of  Arabella. 

The  perfect  plausibility  of  the  letter  made  my  heart 
sink  within  me.  How  long  would  the  child  live  where 
there  was  no  human  being  to  take  her  part,  or  stand 
between  her  and  her  two  unscrupulous  guardians? 
"What  might  they  not  attempt  and  accomplish  ?  We 
two  men  sat  looking  at  each  other  in  the  little  office, 
conscious  of  the  misery  and  suffering  before  the  poor 
girl,  and  utterly  powerless  legally  to  save  her  out  of 
their  hands.  At  last  Mr.  Masters  looked  up  with  a 
faint  ray  of  hope  breaking  over  his  face,  and  spoke  : 

"  My  wife  and  I  will  start  for  Europe  at  once ;  she 
is  used  to  travelling,  and  likes  it.  It  won't  take  us  any 
time  to  prepare  for  the  voyage.  If  it  is  possible  to  over- 
reach that  woman  and  conceal  the  child  for  three  years, 
until  she  is  of  age  under  her  father's  will,  I  shall  take 
the  responsibility  on  myself;  in  such  a  case  as  this,  de- 
ception becomes  a  virtue." 

"Had  we  not  better  find  out  whether  or  not  Mr. 
Parker  is  with  them  ?  "  I  asked. 


52  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

"  That  is  the  first  move,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  shall  go 
now  and  decide  the  question.  Will  you  dine  with  me 
this  evening,  and  explain  your  views  of  the  case  to  my 
wife  ?  I  should  like  her  to  hear  "it  from  your  own  lips ; 
and  in  the  event  of  our  being  successful  in  gaining  pos- 
session of  the  child,  we  had  better  form  some  plan  for 
her  protection  with  your  assistance." 

I  agreed  to  his  proposal  with  pleasure  ;  so  he  handed 
me  his  card  and  we  parted — I  going  up-town,  and  he 
to  Mr.  Parker's  place  of  business.  While  passing  up 
Broadway,  I  felt  a  hand  laid  on  my  shoulder,  and  turn- 
ing, met  Harry  Weston's  bright  eyes  and  pleasant 
voice. 

"Why,  Jack,  you're  looking  a  hundred  per  cent, 
better  than  you  did  yesterday.  Has  she  consented  ?  or 
has  the  board  declared  a  dividend?" 

"  Xeither  the  one  nor  the  other ;  but  Mr.  Masters 
has  returned — the  gentleman  I  have  been  waiting  so 
long  to  see." 

"  Well,  the  sight  of  him  has  had  a  very  good  effect 
upon  you.  I  start  for  home  to-morrow  evening.  To- 
morrow morning,  I  think  of  joining  a  party  on  a  visit 
to  some  of  the  city  institutions.  Will  you  come  ?  " 

I  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

"  Now  don't  refuse,  Jack ;  the  air  and  scenery  will  do 
both  of  us  good.  Of  course,  as  far  as  the  institutions 
and. their  inmates  are  concerned,  there  is  not  much  nov- 
elty about  them.  Such  misery  is  only  too  common  and 
familiar  to  us.  However,  I  can  promise  for  the  party 


IN    WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ABE   CONFIRMED.          53 

being  a  pleasant  one,  and  you  shall  have  an  introduc- 
tion to  three  of  the  prettiest  and  most  agreeable  girls  in 
the  world." 

The  allusion  to  the  three  "  prettiest  and  most  agreea- 
ble girls  in  the  world,"  recalled  to  my  mind  the  form  of 
another  girl,  who,  under  happier  circumstances,  might 
have  been  ranked  in  the  same  category.  Seeing  how 
grave  and  preoccupied  I  was  becoming,  my  companion 
drew  my  arm  in  his  and  turned  the  conversation  on 
other  topics.  By  the  time  we  had  reached  his  hotel,  his 
genial  manner  had  produced  its  usual  effect  upon  me, 
and  I  had  promised  to  meet  him  at  the  house  where  the 
pleasure-party  would  assemble,  by  ten  o'clock  the  next 
morning.  That  evening  I  kept  my  appointment  with 
Mr.  Masters,  and  was  introduced  to  his  wife,  whom  I 
found  a  pleasant,  warm-hearted  little  woman,  if  any 
thing  too  impulsive ;  she  having  formed  already  in  her 
own  mind  some  impossible  scheme  that  she  was  very 
impatient  to  accomplish  without  any  further  discussion. 
We  sat  till  a  late  hour,  a  council  of  three,  planning 
ways  and  means.  Scheme  after  scheme  was  proposed, 
and  abandoned  as  impracticable.  Mr.  Masters  had  as- 
certained that  Mr.  Parker  had  been  out  of  the  city  for 
over  a  month,  and  was  not  expected  home  at  any  given 
time.  So  we  concluded  that  he  was  not  far  removed 
from  Mrs.  Ferris  and  her  charge,  wherever  they  might  be. 
Mrs.  Masters  remembered  the  year  of  Miss  Ferris's 
birth ;  and  having  brought  down  from  a  high  shelf  of 
the  bookcase  an  old  portfolio,  she  took  a  letter  out  of  it 


54  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

which  contained  an  allusion  to  the  circumstance,  and 
the  day  of  the  month  on  which  it  had  occurred. 

"  She  was  seventeen  the  5th  of  last  September,"  the 
good  little  woman  announced,  laying  her  glasses  on  the 
table,  and  pushing  the  old  letter  toward  me. 

"And  she  won't  be  of  age  until  the  day  she  is 
twenty.  Two  years  and  ten  months  of  misery  if  she 
lives,  and  if  we  don't  do  something  at  once  to  take  her 
out  of  that  woman's  power,"  remarked  the  old  gentle- 
man, in  a  determined  tone  of  voice. 

"  This  happens  to  be  the  5th  of  November,"  I  ob- 
served. 

"  Yes,  and  we  can't  sail  for  a  week.  I  couldn't  pro- 
cure a  passage  to-day  in  next  Saturday's  steamer  for 
love  or  money,"  Mr.  Masters  said,  impatiently. 

"  Well,  well,  Joseph,  don't  fret.  It  may  be  all  for 
the  best,"  Mrs.  Masters  observed,  with  a  bright  smile 
directed  toward  her  husband's  face. 

He  was  walking  up  and  down  the  room  with  quick, 
impatient  steps,  annoyed  at  the  delay  and  inactivity 
forced  on  him  by  circumstances.  Catching  the  smile, 
he  stopped  to  caress  the  good,  kind  face  raised  to  his, 
and  remarked: 

"  Ah,  Sallie,  if  we  could  all  possess  your  faith  and 
patience ! " 

When  leaving,  he  invited  me  to  stop  at  his  house 
during  the  remainder  of  my  stay  in  the  city,  proposing 
that  I  should  wait  and  see  them  off  for  Europe.  As  we 
had  arranged  that  he  would  keep  me  informed  of  every 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   CONFIRMED.          55 

thing  that  might  transpire  during  his  absence,  I  declined 
the  invitation,  and  made  up  my  mind  to  start  for  home 
the  next  night,  feeling  that  I  had  neglected  my  patients 
long  enough,  and  could  be  of  no  further  service  to  Mr. 
Masters. 

The  next  morning  I  presented  myself  at  the  appointed 
time  and  place,  met  my  friend,  and  was  introduced  to  a 
number  of  young  people,  whose  manners  and  appearance 
quite  astonished  me.  They  were  dressed  in  the  gayest 
colors ;  feathers,  ribbons,  and  ornaments  of  the  most 
showy  and,  to  me,  extraordinary  kind,  danced  and 
flashed  in  all  directions.  They  laughed,  they  chattered, 
they  appeared  to  enjoy  every  second  of  time  to  the  very 
fullest  extent.  The  pinning  on  of  a  veil,  or  the  knotting 
of  a  ribbon  in  a  becoming  style,  seemed  to  be  the  only 
care  in  life,  the  very  summit  of  their  ambition.  They 
treated  me  most  politely,  no  doubt  for  my  friend's  sake ; 
paid  me  every  attention,  and  listened  with  deference, 
and  bright,  attentive  looks,  to  all  my  remarks.  Before 
many  hours  passed,  I  became  convinced  that  the  light 
spirits,  which  had  at  first  appeared  to  me  exaggerated 
and  assumed,  were  really  natural  and  usual  to  them.  I 
concluded  that  the  fault,  and  need  of  something,  I  could 
not  tell  what,  lay  in  myself.  In  fact,  my  youth  was 
gone,  with  all  its  light-hearted  ness  and  lack  of  care. 
My  profession  was  a  saddening  one  in  its  effect,  taken 
at  its  best,  and,  joined  to  my  natural  disposition,  had 
served  to  make  me  graver  and  more  thoughtful  than 
most  men  of  thirty-four.  Besides,  want  of  means  had 


56  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

kept  me  out  of  company  when  young,  and  by  the  time 
that  want  was  no  longer  felt,  society  had  lost  for  me  all 
its  attractions.  Thus  it  happened  that  I  stood  on  the 
deck  of  the  little  steamboat,  in  the  midst  of  this  merry 
party,  with  the  feeling  at  my  heart  of  not  possessing 
one  thought  in  common  with  them. 

The  "  three  prettiest  and  most  agreeable  girls  in  the 
world  "  were  standing  at  a  little  distance  off,  looking 
at  the  scenery,  and  passing  remarks  on  every  object 
that  attracted  their  attention.  Harry  Weston  stood, 
partly  leaning  against  the  railing  of  the  deck,  listening 
and  answering,  his  bright  face  all  sparkling  with  pleas- 
ure and  animation.  He  gradually  drew  me  into  the 
conversation,  which  now  turned  on  the  islands,  and 
their  respective  buildings  just  coming  in  sight. 

"  Cousin  Edith  says  that  she  will  not  go  inside  the 
doors  of  the  Lunatic  Asylum,  Mr.  "VVeston,"  observed 
one  of  the  three  girls,  a  tall,  stylish-looking  young  lady, 
\vith  flashing  eyes,  and  a  bright  smile  that  displayed 
two  beautiful  dimples. 

"  Indeed,  Mr.  "Weston,"  replied  the  young  lady  re- 
ferred to  as  cousin  Edith,  "  it  would  be  no  pleasure  to 
me  at  all.  I  should  like  to  see  the  grounds  and  build- 
ings for  the  sake  of  knowing  that  the  poor  creatures 
are  well  cared  for;  but  as  to  looking  at  human  misery 
in  that  form,  oh  !  I  couldn't  do  it ;  it  makes  me  shudder 
even  to  think  of  it." 

"Papa  says  that  they  don't  allow  visitors  to  see 
anything  very  disagreeable — I  believe  only  those  whose 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS  ARE   CONFIRMED.          57 

insanity  takes  a  mild  form,  and  who  are  perfectly  harm- 
less— monomaniacs  I  think  he  called  them.  Those  who 
are  dangerous  are  kept  apart  in  some  other  building." 

"  Yes,  Edith,"  remarked  the  third  young  lady,  "  and 
Uncle  William  insists  that  plenty  of  them  are  no  more 
insane  than  we  are.  He  says  that  their  relatives  place 
them  there,  very  often,  because  they  are  poor  and  in- 
firm, and  not  able  to  support  themselves ;  and  as  it  is  a 
city  institution,  and  free,  it  relieves  them  of  all  ex- 
pense" 

"  But,  Carrie,  how  can  that  be  ?  Surely  the  physi- 
cian in  charge  would  not  receive  them  unless  they  had 
some  form  of  insanity,"  asked  Miss  Edith,  unconvinced. 

"  Well,  he  thinks  so.  What  he  means  is  this :  they 
may  be  a  little  weak  on  some  one  point,  and  perfectly 
harmless ;  of  course,  if  they  were  rich,  it  would  be 
parsed  over  and  concealed,  or  else  called  eccentricity ; 
but  being  poor,  it  is  made  an  excuse  for  putting  them 
out  of  the  way,  where  they  can  give  no  trouble." 

"  Do  you  believe  what  Cousin  Carrie  says  ?  "  asked 
Miss  Edith,  with  an  appealing  look  at  Harry  Weston. 

"  3!ost  decidedly,"  was  his  reply.  "  The  private 
asylums  throughout  the  country  contain  many  such 
cases.  If  people  in  good  circumstances  are  unwilling 
to  take  charge  of  their  relatives  so  afflicted,  we  can 
hardly  wonder  if  those  of  a  lower  rank  in  life  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  free  institution  to  rid  themselves  of  such 
a  responsibility." 

Miss  Edith  Fullerton  looked  shocked,  and  Harry 
3* 


58  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

quickly  began  speaking  on  some  other  subject.  When 
it  was  time  to  go  on  shore,  he  placed  her  in  my  charge  ; 
and  during  our  stay  in  the  different  buildings,  I  was 
pleased  with  her  sensible,  well-chosen  remarks,  and  sur- 
prised at  the  interest  she  exhibited  in  every  thing  shown 
us.  The  day  was  fine  and  sunny,  and  remarkably  warm 
for  the  season.  Every  thing  in  nature  was  perfect,  and 
exhilarating  in  its  effect,  tending  to  make  the  heart  sad- 
der as  we  wandered  through  these  huge  edifices  telling 
of  crime  and  degradation,  and  gazed  on  their  wretched 
inmates. 

We  were  a  large  party,  gay  and  merry  in  spite  of  all 
these  fearittl  surroundings.  How  almost  impossible  it 
is  to  bring  the  miseries  of  others  home  to  ourselves ! 
My  companions  laughed  and  chatted  on,  looking  with 
curious  eyes  at  the  figures,  in  convicts'  garments,  pass- 
ing and  repassing,  as  if  they  belonged  to  another 
world  and  order  of  being.  As  we  left  the  workhouse, 
accompanied  by  the  warden,  we  came  upon  a  procession 
of  women  on  their  way  to  it.  My  companion  shivered, 
and  clung  closer  to  my  arm  as  we  stood  aside  to  let 
them  pass.  Would  any  one  believe  that  they  had  ever 
been  young,  ever  been  innocent,  and  yet  some  of  them 
had  not  reached  their  eighteenth  year !  Just  as  they 
had  been  taken  off  the  streets  the  night  before,  and 
placed  in  the  station-houses,  they  were  put  on  the  boat 
in  the  morning  and  sent  "  to  the  island."  They  passed 
before  us  with  lowered  heads,  the  personification  of 
moral  degradation. 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   CONFIRMED.          59 

"  They  look  upon  this  as  their  home,"  the  warden 
remarked,  in  answer  to  some  observation  that  I  did  not 
hear.  "  The  same  ones  are  sent  here  over  and  over 
again.  You  see  they  have  no  home  nor  character,  they 
can't  find  work,  nobody  will  have  any  tiling  to  do  with 
them  ;  so  as  soon  as  their  time  is  up,  and  we  send  them, 
back  to  the  city,  they  begin  to  drink  and  fight  on  pur- 
pose to  be  put  up  again." 

"  And  can  nothing  be  done  for  them  in  this  large 
city,  so  full  of  churches  and  benevolent  societies  ? " 
asked  Miss  Fullerton.  "  Surely  there  are  ways  by  which 
a  reform  could  be  effected." 

"  Well,  there  are  several  clergymen  doing  their  best 
to  be  allowed  to  visit  here,  and  I  hope  they  will  succeed 
in  their  efforts.  Some  such  influence  is  sadly  needed, 
but  you  have  no  idea  of  the  difficulties  attending  such 
a  work.  The  evils  they  will  have  to  contend  against 
are  beyond  description.  Where  the  moral  degradation 
is  so  complete,  an  appeal  to  the  reason  becomes  impos- 
sible ;  you  can  only  hope  to  reach  them  through  their 
feelings,  and  they  have  grown  so  blunted  by  neglect 
and  misery,  that  how  to  touch  them  is  a  question.  They 
have  lost  all  faith  in  humanity,  and  they  have  no  knowl- 
edge of  a  higher  Power." 

The  warden  spoke  feelingly  and  with  emphasis,  sin- 
cerely deploring  the  wretchedness  which  he  had  neither 
power  nor  authority  to  ameliorate.  We  pursued  our 
way  toward  the  lunatic  asylum,  admiring  the  grounds 
and  the  situation  of  the  various  buildings  connected 


60  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

with  it.  On  reaching  the  entrance,  we  were  met  by  one 
of  the  assistant  physicians,  who  politely  offered  to  show 
us  through  the  building,  and  explain  any  thing  that  we 
might  like  to  understand.  Miss  Fullerton  refused  to 
enter  the  place,  and  proposed  remaining  in  a  small 
summer-house,  that  had  caught  her  attention,  standing 
not  far  from  us  in  the  midst  of  a  flower-garden.  Find- 
ing it  impossible  to  overrule  her  objections,  we  left  her 
admiring  some  plants  not  yet  out  of  bloom,  and  pro- 
ceeded on  our  tour  of  inspection.  We  were  shown  one 
hall,  with  little  dormitories  opening  out  of  it,  in  -which 
were  a  number  of  women  of  various  ages.  Some  were 
singing,  others  sewing,  many  walking  back  and  forth 
with  quick,  decided  steps,  clasped  hands,  and  bent  heads. 
They  appeared  to  be  engaged  in  deep  thought,  but  we 
were  assured  that  their  minds  were  quite  vacant,  their 
understanding  gone  forever.  A  few  attempted  to  at- 
tract our  notice,  but  entire  indifference  to  us  was  almost 
general ;  they  had,  no  doubt,  become  quite  accustomed 
to  being  gazed  at  by  parties  of  gayly-attired,  sight- 
hunting  visitors.  The  place  was  scrupulously  clean, 
light,  and  airy,  and  they  appeared  to  be  furnished  with 
means  for  occupation  and  amusement.  On  our  way  out 
we  stepped  into  a  little  museum,  supplied  by  good-heart- 
ed contributors  with  many  interesting  curiosities,  in- 
tended for  the  amusement  and  instruction  of  the  afflicted 
inmates  of  the  institution.  While  there,  Harry  Weston 
entered  into  a  conversation  regarding  the  social  condi- 
tion of  the  people  committed  to  the  asylum.  The  young 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ABE   CONFIRMED.          61 

doctor  was  very  explicit  and  communicative  on  the  sub- 
ject. He  informed  us  that  the  head  physician  had  made 
insanity  his  study  for  years,  and  was  considered  the 
very  highest  authority  in  that  branch  of  his  profession 
in  the  country.  For  that  reason,  people  of  wealth  and 
position  often  intrusted  their  relatives  to  his  care,  be- 
cause, while  his  skill  was  undisputed,  he  could  have  no 
object  in  detaining  them  longer  than  would  be  necessary 
in  order  to  effect  a  cure,  the  institution  being  a  chari- 
table one.  In  private  asylums,  the  temptation  to  pro- 
long a  patient's  recovery  was  not  always  resisted. 

"  Then  you  discharge  the  person  as  soon  as  you  con- 
sider him  or  her  perfectly  recovered  ?  "  said  Harry. 

"  Yes,  there  is  no  object  to  us  in  keeping  them  here, 
they  are  only  an  expense  to  the  city.  If  they  are  in- 
curable and  poor,  they  remain  here,  or  we  send  them  to 
their  relatives  if  desired ;  of  course,  we  have  no  power 
to  detain  them,  if  their  own  people  are  able  and  willing 
to  take  charge  of  them.  In  many  cases  they  are  left 
with  us  by  persons  apparently  well  off,  whom  we  never 
see  or  hear  of  again.  Poor,  harmless  creatures,  who 
might  as  well  be  cared  for  at  home  as  far  as  their  being 
dangerous  is  concerned,  but  then  they  are  a  trouble,  and 
so  they  end  their  lives  here  with  us.  There  are  some 
who  have  been  here  over  twenty  years." 

The  announcement  that  we  "just  had  time  to  reach 
the  steamboat,"  broke  off  the  conversation  at  this  inter- 
esting point,  and  gathering  up  shawls  and  parasols  we 
listened  down  to  the  entrance,  just  beyond  which  stood 


62  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

Miss  Fullerton,  looking  very  pale  and  thoughtful.  She 
put  her  arm  in  mine  without  speaking,  but  as  soon  as 
\ve  were  out  of  the  garden  and  on  the  road  she  gave  a 
quick  glance  around  her  and  said  abruptly : 

"  I  believe  now  what  Cousin  Came  said.  There  was 
one  of  the  prettiest  young  girls  I  ever  saw,  gathering 
flowers  in  the  garden,  and  from  the  way  she  spoke  I 
believe  she  is  just  as  sensible  as  I  am." 

"  Probably  she  is  one  of  the  doctor's  family — I  be- 
lieve they  reside  on  the  island,"  I  said. 

"  Not  at  all ;  she  told  me  that  her  own  people  had 
placed  her  here,  and  that  she  feels  happier  here  than 
with  them,  as  long  as  she  is  allowed  to  go  about  and 
amuse  herself  alone  with  the  flowers ;  but  she  thinks  it 
is  dreadful  to  be  put  among  those  who  are  really  insane 
at  other  times." 

"  I  think,"  I  remarked,  "  that  it  is  a  symptom  of  in- 
sanity, that  of  believing  one's  self  sane,  and  all  around 
us  mad." 

"  I  only  wish  you  had  seen  her,  as  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  convince  you  that  she  is  perfectly  rational." 

"She  may  be  a  monomaniac,  and  you,  probably, 
didn't  touch  on  the  subject  likely  to  arouse  her.  W;is 
she  quite  young  ?  In  that  case  there  may  be  hopes  en- 
tertained of  her  complete  recovery." 

"  I  should  say,  if  asked,  that  she  was  about  sixteen ; 
she  is  very  childish  both  in  manner  and  appearance,  and 
I  never  saw  such  eyes  except  in  a  picture." 

Miss  Fullerton  sighed,  and  we  pursued  our  way  tow- 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   CONFIRMED.          63 

ard  the  steamboat  landing  in  silence.  The  little  she 
had  seen  appeared  to  be  quite  enough  for  her,  and  had 
visibly  affected  her  spirits.  We  reached  the  boat  and 
•were  about  seating  ourselves  comfortably  on  deck  with 
the  rest  of  the  party,  when  she  suddenly  exclaimed : 

"  Oh  !  Dr.  Wilmer,  I  have  lost  my  shawl  and  parasol. 
I  must  have  left  them  on  the  bench  in  the  summer-house, 
for  I  don't  recollect  having  them  since." 

The  shawl  was  a  large,  extra  one,  provided  in  case 
of  the  weather  becoming  colder  on  our  return  trip.  I 
had  carried  it  on  my  arm  all  the  morning,  but  curiously 
enough  had  neither  missed  it  nor  thought  of  it  after 
leaving  the  asylum. 

"  I  shall  have  time  to  find  them,"  I  answered,  and  I 
made  my  way  off  the  boat  and  up  the  narrow  road  as 
fast  as  I  could. 

As  it  happened,  I  met  no  one  who  appeared  to  be 
employed  in  any  official  capacity  about  the  place,  and  I 
hastened  toward  the  summer-house,  trying  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  bright-colored  object  of  my  search.  I 
had  my  hand  on  it  when  I  heard  a  rustling  sound,  and 
a  cry  of  joy,  and  the  next  second  Arabella  Ferris  was 
clinging  round  my  neck,  breathless  with  surprise  and 
delight.  I  don't  know  what  I  said,  I  know  that  I  sank 
on  the  bench,  and  clasped  her  in  my  arms,  completely 
overpowered  by  emotions  that  I  can  neither  explain  nor 
express.  When  I  looked  up  she  was  sitting  with  clasped 
hands,  her  soft  eyes  fixed  on  ray  face,  and  an  expression 
of  perfect  faith  and  peace  on  her  own.  That  my  pres- 


64:  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

ence  was  all-powerful  for  her  release  and  protection  was 
her  firm  belief.  I  sat  looking  at  her  without  speaking. 
What  to  do  was  the  question  that  I  was  resolving  in 
my  mind.  Moments  were  precious,  a  wil«t  plan  flashed 
through  my  brain  and  I  determined  to  risk  its  attempt. 
She  was  dressed  in  a  dark  material  not  unlike  what  Miss 
Fullerton  wore,  and  her  hat  lay  beside  her  on  the  ground. 
I  folded  the  shawl  and  fastened  it  on  her  in  a  way  to 
hide  her  dress,  drew  her  arm  in  mine,  opened  the  parasol 
and  held  it  over  her  head  as  we  left  the  summer-house. 
Once  outside,  I  glanced  around ;  no  one  was  observing 
us  that  I  could  see,  and  we  walked  through  the  garden 
toward  the  road  leading  to  the  boat-landing.  We  had 
gone  but  a  short  way  when  we  saw  the  boat  out  in  the 
river,  steaming  in  the  direction  of  the  city.  My  com- 
panion hitherto  had  not  spoken ;  she  only  followed  my 
directions  and  clung  to  my  arm  firmly,  endeavoring 
with  all  her  strength  to  keep  her  trembling  steps  up 
with  mine.  That  she  was  very  weak  I  could  tell  by 
looking  down  at  the  thin,  white  hand  grasping  my 
arm.  Now,  when  I  stopped  short  in  the  road,  disap- 
pointed and  almost  despairing,  she  looked  up  suddenly, 
and  exclaimed : 

"I  know  what  to  do:  come  to  the  boat-house,  and 
the  'admiral'  will  take  us  across  the  river  in  the  row- 
boat." 

I  looked  surprised.  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  who  is 
the  'admiral?'" 

,,IIc  belongs  here,  and  has  charge  of  the  boat ;  very 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   CONFIRMED.          G5 

frequently  visitors  go  over  to  the  city  that  way ;  I  often 
sit  and  watch  it  going  across." 

She  had  turned,  while  speaking,  in  the  other  direc- 
tion, and  we  Valked  as  rapidly  as  possible  toward  the 
northern  end  of  the  island.  It  did  not  take  us  long  to 
reach  our  destination,  a  little  boat-house,  near  which,  in 
the  water,  lay  a  boat  about  pushing  off.  It  contained 
several  gentlemen  who  had  been  inspecting  the  island, 
and  who  were,  fortunately  for  us,  returning  to  the  city 
by  this  agreeable  way.  Catching  sight  of  us,  ah  old 
man  who  stood  in  the  boat,  touched  his  hat,  a  most 
comical  affair,  ornamented  with  faded  artificial  flowers, 
and  waited  for  us.  He  assisted  Miss  Ferris  into  the 
boat,  and  the  gentlemen  politely  made  room  for  us 
among  its  cushions.  The  old  man  with  the  ornamented 
hat  gave  an  order  in  an  important  nautical  tone  of 
voice,  as  if  his  little  sail-boat  were  a  three  decker,  and 
then  seated  himself  at  the  helm.  The  next  moment 
we  were  gliding  through  the  water  toward  the  opposite 
bank.  My  companion  had  sunk  on  the  seat  in  an  al- 
most fainting  condition ;  the  mere  hope  of  liberty  was 
enough  to  excite  her  at  any  time ;  now  that  the  hope 
seemed  about  to  be  fulfilled,  she  was  completely  over- 
come with  joy.  Feeling  afraid,  lest  one  of  the  gentle- 
men in  the  boat  might  belong  to  the  institution,  and 
recognize  her,  I  sat  with  one  arm  round  her  waist 
supporting  her,  and  the  other  holding  the  parasol  over 
her  face.  The  gentlemen,  who  were  all  very  stout  and 
ruddy  looking,  talked  without  ceasing  on  various  sub- 


66  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

jects,  mostly  political  ones.  My  attention  was  more  or 
less  attracted  by  them,  and  I  felt  rather  'amused  than 
otherwise  at  some  of  the  opinions  they  expressed. 
After  a  while  they  all  lit  cigars,  and  began  discussing 
a  dinner-party  about  coming  off  on  one  of  the  islands. 
They  became  so  interested  on  the  subjects  of  salmon, 
turtle-soup,  and  champagne,  that  I  turned  without  feel- 
ing any  further  uneasiness  to  my  companion  and  the 
consideration  .of  her  position.  She  was  too  we'ak  and 
frightened  to  utter  a  word,  and  I  tried  to  reassure  her, 
and  imbue  her  with  the  courage  necessary  to  a  success- 
ful termination  of  our  adventure.  We  were  rapidly 
approaching  the  shore,  when  I  observed  with  dismay  a 
small  party  of  gentlemen  awaiting  our  arrival.  They 
were  standing  on  a  platform,  or  kind  of  piazza,  at- 
tached to  a  public  house  that  stood  on  the  bank  front- 
ing the  river.  Their  voices  and  merry  laughter  were 
wafted  toward  us  by  the  wind,  and  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  gentlemen  in  the  boat. 

A  number  of  loud  salutations  now  ensued,  among 
which  the  words  "  doctor  "  and  "  governor  "  were  very 
distinct.  In  the  midst  of  it  all  I  felt  Miss  Ferris  trembling, 
and,  looking  at  her  face,  saw  that  it  was  white  with  fear. 

"That  is  the  doctor  who  is  talking;  I  know  his 
voice.  What  shall  I  do  ?  please  don't  let  him  take  me 
back  again ! "  Her  voice  was  so  low  that  I  could  hardly 
catch  the  meaning  of  the  words.  Just  then  we  touched 
the  wharf,  and  the  men  put  out  their  hooks  and  steadied 
the  boat  alongside  for  us  to  land. 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AKE   COOTIKMED.          67 

"  Courage,"  I  whispered ;  "  don't  give  up  yet,  we  are 
nearly  safe." 

The  gentlemen  sprang  out  first,  and  up  the  wooden 
steps,  joining  the  other  party  at  the  top  of  them.  Here 
was  a  dilemma.  It  would  he  rather  a  difficult  matter  to 
pass,  unobserved  by  the  vigilant  doctor,  this  watchful 
group.  One  gentleman  came  to  my  rescue ;  who  he  was 
I  have  never  found  out,  but  I  owe  him  many  thanks. 
I  was  assisting  Miss  Ferris  out  of  the  boat,  painfully 
conscious  of  the  glances  fixed  on  us,  yet  not  daring  to 
let  her  observe  my  fears,  when  he  called  out,  in  a  full, 
cheerful  voice :  "  Come,  gentlemen,  we  are  not  going  to 
part  this  way ;  let  us  have  a  bottle  of  wine."  The  next 
minute  he  had  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  house,  fol- 
lowed by  the  whole  group.  To  lift  Miss  Ferris  up  the 
steps,  and  half  carry  her  across  the  platform,  was  the 
work  of  but  a  few  moments.  The  carriage,  in  which  the 
doctor  and  his  party  had  driven  out  from  the  city,  stood 
in  the  street,  near  the  side  of  the  public-house.  The 
driver,  who  was  preparing  to  return  to  the  city,  jumped 
off  his  box  with  alacrity  on  observing  my  signal,  and 
opened  the  door.  I  lifted  Miss  Ferris  into  it,  gave  him 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Masters'  house,  and  then  threw 
myself  back  on  the  cushions  with  a  long-drawn  sigh  of 
relief.  That  over,  I  made  a  pillow  of  my  overcoat  and 
put  it  under  my  companion's  head ;  wrapped  Miss  Ful- 
lerton's  shawl  around  her,  and  enjoined  strict  silence. 

She  slept  very  quietly  after  a  little  while,  and  I  sat 
watching  her,  with  curious  emotions,  caused  by  mingled 


68  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

joy  and  thankfulness,  swelling  in  my  heart.  It  was  a  long 
and,  to  me,  entirely  unfamiliar  road,  which  we  traversed 
that  chilly  November  evening.  Anxiety  on  Miss  Fer- 
ris's  account,  without  doubt,  made  it  appear  even  more 
tedious ;  and,  when  at  last  the  driver  stopped  his  horses 
and  opened  the  door  to  announce  our  arrival  at  our  des- 
tination, my  fears  for  her  had  increased  alarmingly. 
Miss  Ferris,  though  still  sleeping,  was  talking  incohe- 
rently and  burning  with  fever.  The  driver  rang  the  bell 
of  the  house,  and  as  soon  as  the  door  was  opened,  I  car- 
ried her  up  the  steps,  through  the  hall,  and  into  the  par- 
lor, where  sat  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masters  awaiting  the  an- 
nouncement of  dinner.  They  started  from  their  chairs 
on  seeing  me,  and  heard  with  speechless  amazement  my 
first  words : 

"  This  is  Miss  Ferris.  Don't  ask  me  any  thing,"  I 
continued,  "  until  she  is  in  bed,  and  don't  wait  a  mo- 
ment, but  get  a  room  ready  for  her  at  once." 

Mrs.  Masters  hurried  away  without  another  word, 
and  her  husband  stood  looking  with  tearful  eyes  at  the 
slight,  wasted  form  on  the  sofa  before  him.  Miss  Fer- 
ris lay  regarding  him  with  a  curious  expression  of  half 
recognition  on  her  face.  From  him  her  eyes  wandered 
to  me,  and  she  murmured  the  words,  "  Don't  leave  me." 

"  You  are  safe  now,"  I  said,  soothingly ;  "  you  are 
with  your  father's  old  friends.  They  will  take  care  of 
you." 

Mr.  Masters  by  degrees  brought  himself  to  her  recol- 
lection, and  she  listened  with  a  smile  on  her  face  while 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ARE   CONFIRMED.          69 

he  talked  over  days  long  since  passed  away,  when  she 
had  sat  on  his  knee,  and  eaten  candies  out  of  his  pocket. 
I  let  him  talk  on,  knowing  that  it  was  necessary  for  her 
to  fully  trust  in  and  love  these  kind  people,  the  only 
ones  to  stand  between  her  and  her  dreaded  step-mother. 
She  was  Mr.  Masters'  god-child  as  it  turned  out,  and 
had  always  been  very  fond  of  him  in  the  old  happy 

• 

times  before  her  father's  death.  So  he  chatted  on,  bring- 
ing to  mind  various  pets  and  toys  that  she  had  owned, 
and  different  little  expeditions  to  bookstores  and  candy- 
shops  that  they  had  undertaken  together.  Listening  to 
them,  I  began  to  question  whether  it  would  not  be  bet- 
ter to  take  up  the  threads  of  her  life  just  at  this  happy 
point,  from  which  they  had  been  so  cruelly  turned  away, 
and  by  never  mentioning  what  had  passed  in  the  last 
six  years,  try  to  make  her  forget  all  its  later  miseries. 
She  had  been,  on  the  whole,  a  happy  little  child;  in 
knowledge  and  feeling  she  was  one  still.  She  knew 
nothing  of  books,  her  whole  study  for  six  long  years  had 
been  the  characters  and  impulses  of  the  two  women 
who  had  controlled  her  life  during  that  time.  Of  that 
phase  of  human  nature  her  experience  was  a  sad  and 
minute  one.  She  might  live  to  an  old  age,  and  never 
meet  with  it  again. 

When  Mrs.  Masters  came  back,  she  found  Miss 
Ferris  sitting  up,  with  her  hand  in  Mr.  Masters',  smiling 
at  the  story  of  some  childish  prank  of  hers  that  he  was 
telling.  The  good  woman  took  the  young  girl  into  her 
heart  at  once,  kissing  her  and  almost  crying  over  her. 


70  DK.  WJLMER'S  LOVE. 

Seeing  that  her  fear  of  these  new  friends  was  dissipated, 
I  at  once  prescribed  rest,  and  no  more  talking.  How- 
ever, I  had  to  promise  to  go  up  and  see  her  before  leav- 
ing the  house,  so  as  to  satisfy  her  mind,  and  then  she 
went  away,  with  Mrs.  Masters'  motherly  arm  around 
her,  and  a  servant  with  a  very  good-natured  face  fol- 
lowing them.  Mrs.  Masters  sent  us  down  word^  that 
she  could  not  think  of  leaving  the  poor  child,  at  least 
until  she  slept,  so  we  dined  without  her ;  and  I  gave  Mr. 
Masters  a  circumstantial  account  of  my  day's  adven- 
tures. The  good  man  was  more  astonished  than  even  I 
had  been. 

That  Mrs.  Ferris  should  trust  the  child  out  of  her 
own  keeping  seemed  incredible  to  him.  I  accounted  for 
it  easily  enough  in  my  own  mind.  She  had  no  doubt 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  making  away  with  the  girl, 
by  the  means  that  I  had  discovered  her  using,  was  a 
highly  dangerous  undertaking — one  open  to  a  great 
risk,  and  not  very  easily  accomplished.  There  was  no 
fear  of  any  one  that  she  knew  ever  meeting  the  child,  or 
recognizing  her,  in  a  lunatic  asylum,  provided  for  the 
poor  and  friendless  of  another  class.  Besides,  she  had 
left  her  to  live  or  die  there,  careless  of  which  it  might 
be.  She  had  abandoned  her  entirely,  feeling  quite  sure 
that  release  was  impossible  except  by  death ;  a  result 
very  probable,  as  in  case  she  did  not  sink  under  physi- 
cal weakness,  the  blue  waters  were  spread  out  on  all 
sides  around  her  inviting  her  to  bury  her  cares  forever 
in  their  depths.  Mr.  Masters  was  inclined  to  think  that 


IN   WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   AEE   CONFIRMED.         71 

Mrs.  Ferris  would  communicate  with  the  head  physi- 
cian, and  learn  in  time  of  her  daughter's  strange  dis- 
appearance. I  held  to  the  contrary  opinion ;  but 
Mrs.  Masters  came  down,  and  having  heard  all  the 
particulars,  agreed  with  us,  that  Miss  Ferris  should  be 
removed  from  the  city  as  soon  as  she  was  able  to  travel. 
It  was  best  to  be  prepared  for  all  emergencies,  Mr. 
Masters  thought,  and  it  was  necessary  to  conceal  the 
fact  of  Miss  Ferris's  existence  in  the  United  States,  for 
at  least  two  years  and  ten  months. 

"The  day  she  reaches  her  twentieth  year,  Doctor 
Wilmer,  will  be  a  merry  one  for  us.  "We  shall  have  a 
jollification  of  some  kind,  as  sure  as  my  name  is  Joe 
Masters." 

"I  only  hope  she  will  be  alive  on  that  day,  and  I 
shall  be  satisfied,"  Mrs.  Masters  answered,  with  a  dole- 
ful look  and  an  ominous  shake  of  her  head. 

Mr.  Masters  gave  me  a  questioning  glance. 

"  Miss  Ferris  is  not  strong,"  I  said,  in  answer  to  his 
eager  gaze  in  my  face ;  "  but  I  don't  think  she  is  any 
worse  than  when  I  saw  her  in  September.  Now  she  has 
a  bright  prospect  before  her,  and  that  will  do  more  to 
restore  her  to  health  than  any  thing  I  could  prescribe." 

"  You  must  understand  her  constitution  better  than 
any  doctor  could  that  we  might  call  in,"  remarked  Mr. 
Masters ;  "  still,  if  you  would  like  a  consultation — " 

"  It  will  not  be  necessary,"  I  answered.  "  Her  ner- 
vous system  is  terribly  weakened;  rest  and  freedom 
from  all  excitement,  and  especially  from  all  recollection 


72  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

of  what  she  has  suffered,  are  positively  required.  I 
should  advise,  after  a  little  while,  taking  up  her  educa- 
tion just  where  she  left  it  off,  and  treating  her  exactly 
as  you  would  a  child.  If  it  be  possible,  let  her  have  her 
girlhood,  with  all  its  innocence,  and  freedom  from  care 
and  knowledge  of  the  world." 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  ever  do  to  send  her  to  a 
boarding-school,"  said  Mrs.  Masters ;  "  the  girls  would 
laugh  at  her  ignorance,  and  increase  her  nervousness." 

"And  we  can't  keep  her  here,"  Mr.  Masters  replied. 
"If  Mrs.  Ferris  hears  of  her  escape,  we  shall  have  a 
whole  force  of  detectives  watching  every  movement  we 
make.  Come,  doctor,"  he  went  on,  "  concoct  some 
plan  for  hiding  the  young  lady,  and  at  the  same  time 
providing  the  means  for  educating  her  properly.  She 
will  have  the  spending  of  ten  thousand  a  year,  and  she 
must  be  prepared  for  the  position  she  will  occupy,  if  all 
goes  well." 

I  sat  lost  in  thought,  debating  a  point  in  my  mind. 
I  had  formed  a  plan,  and  it  seemed  a  feasible  one,  and 
yet  I  was  diffident  about  proposing  it.  I  was  question- 
ing my  own  motives  in  regard  to  it. 

"  Out  with  it,  doctor ! "  cried  Mr.  Masters ;  "  you've 
thought  of  something,  I  can  see  that  by  your  face.  That 
is  a  wonderful  head  of  yours  for  strategy.  Come,  don't 
be  bashful — let  us  hear  it !  " 

So  I  explained  to  him  that  my  mother  and  sister 
were  living  alone  in  a  very  quiet  little  village  near 
Albany ;  that  the  house  was  roomy,  and  the  neighbor- 


IN  WHICH   MY   SUSPICIONS   ABE   COOTT1EMED.          73 

hood  all  that  could  be  desired  ;  that  my  sister  had  been 
educated  for  a  teacher,  and  had  been  a  very  success- 
ful one  for  many  years,  until  our  mother's  health  failed, 
and  it  became  necessary  for  her  to  undertake  the  man- 
agement of  the  house.  Before  I  was  half  through,  Mr. 
Masters  was  shaking  my  hand,  and  declaring  that  noth- 
ing could  be  better;  Mrs.  Masters  was  equally  delight- 
ed ;  and  it  was  agreed  that  I  should  write  at  once  to 
my  sister,  and  make  all  the  proper  arrangements. 
On  going  up  to  visit  my  patient,  I  found  her  asleep, 
with  the  good-natured-looking  servant  keeping  watch 
beside  her.  Promising  to  return  and  finish  my  stay  in 
New  York  at  Mr.  Masters'  house,  I  started  for  Harry 
"VVeston's  hotel,  and  caught  him  just  about  leaving  it  for 
the  cars,  his  valise  in  his  hand  and  his  overcoat  on  his  arm. 
He  was  surprised  and  delighted  to  see  me,  they  all  hav- 
ing concluded  that  I  was  on  the  island  for  the  night. 

"But  what  have  you  done  with  yourself?"  he  ex- 
claimed, giving  me  a  long  look.  "I  never  saw  such  a 
change  in  a  man  as  that  sail  has  made  in  you ;  it  was 
very  effective.  Upon  my  word,  Jack,  you  do  me  credit 
— I  shall  put  that  down  among  my  wonderful  cures." 

"  Harry,"  I  said,  "  if  you  will  have  patience  for 
three  years,  I  will  let  you  into  a  secret.  It  is  not  my 
own,  or  you  should  know  it  now." 

"So  you  want  to  make  me  believe  that  it  is  some 
stupid  secret,  and  not  my  sail,  that  has  affected  you  so 
powerfully.  Come,  Jack,  don't  be  jealous  of  my  supe- 
rior skill;  but  remember,  three  year*  from  to-day  I  shall 
4 


74  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

come  North  and  hear  your  wonderful  mystery."  I  ac- 
companied him  to  the  cars,  and  having  procured  Miss 
Fullerton's  address,  bade  him  a  hearty  "  good-by." 

On  returning  to  Mr.  Masters'  house,  I  heard  that 
my  patient  was  awake,  but  delirious.  True  enough, 
meeting  me  so  unexpectedly,  and  escaping  so  success- 
fully when  almost  despairing,  had  been  too  much  excite- 
ment for  the  weakened  nerves  and  brain.  We  passed  a 
terrible  night,  listening  to  her  curiously  mingled  ra- 
vings. Niagara,  her  fall,  and  our  few  conversations 
together,  were  inextricably  confounded  with  her  journey 
to  New  York,  her  arrival  at  the  lunatic  asylum,  and 
her  escape  from  it.  Mrs.  Masters  listened  attentively 
and  cried  bitterly  over  the  sufferings  and  cruelties  she 
had  endured  ;  and  Mr.  Masters  had  to  go  down  to  the 
parlor,  where  he  vented  his  rage  against  Mrs.  Ferris, 
Mr.  Parker,  and  Susan,  in  a  most  audible  manner.  The 
weary  ravings  at  length  were  hushed,  and  Miss  Ferris 
slept  a  quiet,  refreshing  sleep.  In  the  afternoon  of  the 
following  day  I  called  on  Miss  Fullerton  and  requested 
permission  to  keep  the  bright  shawl  and  fringed  para- 
sol, as  mementoes  of  the  preceding  one.  They  are 
hanging  up  now,  in  an  old  cabinet  not  very  far  from 
where  I  sit  writing.  I  rather  think  that,  at  the  time, 
Miss  Fullerton  thought,  very  naturally,  that  I  had  not 
succeeded  in  finding  them;  however,  she  don't  think  so 
at  present.  For  two  weeks  I  remained  at  Mr.  Masters' 
house,  and  while  my  patient  slowly  regained  strength 
of  mind  and  body,  Mrs.  Masters  superintended  the  cut- 


IN  WHICH   MY  SUSPICIONS  AEE  CONFIRMED.          75 

ting  out  and  fitting  of  a  most  remarkable  wardrobe, 
which  from  its  extent  and  costliness  must  have  slightly 
turned  the  heads  of  the  quiet  villagers  for  whose  benefit 
it  was  afterward  displayed. 

Mr.  Masters  had  gone  up  the  river,  seen  my  mother 
and  sister,  made  all  the  arrangements,  and  was  now  en- 
gaged in  sending  numerous  articles  up  there,  destined 
for  the  use  and  comfort  of  his  adopted  daughter. 
Among  the  rest  was  a  magnificent  piano-forte,  whose 
grandeur  quite  eclipsed  the  old  one  that  stood  in  our 
quiet  parlor,  and  whose  tone  and  volume  delighted  my 
sister.  When  at  last  I  decided  that  my  patient  was  able 
to  travel,  my  sister  came  down  to  New  York,  and  was 
introduced  to  her  future  pupil.  The  change  that  a  few 
weeks  of  happiness  and  freedom  from  care  had  effected 
in  Miss  Ferris,  was  quite  remarkable.  I  felt  rather 
amused  at  the  surprise  exhibited  by  my  sister  on  seeing 
her;  she  had  no  doubt  formed  a  very  good  idea  of  her 
from  my  first  letters,  but  I  had  not  thought  of  telling  of 
the  alteration  which  had  since  taken  place  in  her  health 
and  appearance.  Therefore,  when  Miss  Ferris  came  into 
the  room,  with  light  steps  and  eyes  shining  with  pleas- 
ure, dressed  in  a  rich  dark  silk,  with  soft  lace  shadow- 
ing her  neck  and  arms,  and  her  hair  falling  around  her 
in  long,  bright  curls,  she  quite  astonished  my  sister,  who 
was  totally  unprepared  for  such  a  pretty  vision. 

The  next  moment,  to  the  still  greater  surprise  of  that 
quiet  lady,  Miss  Ferris  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck, 
and  kissed  me,  exclaiming — 


6  DE.  WILMEES  LOVE. 

"  How  long  you  have  been  away !  Oh,  I  am  so  glad 
to  see  you  ! " 

Then  she  turned,  and  was  introduced  to  her  new 
teacher  and  guardian,  going  through  the  ceremony  in  a 
very  different  manner,  she  having  a  morbid  dread  of  all 
strangers. 

When  we  were  alone  again,  my  sister  expressed  her 
surprise  at  such  strange  behavior  on  the  part  of  a  young 
lady  of  seventeen,  and  took  me  to  task  for  permitting  it 
and  appearing  pleased  with  it. 

"  You  forget,"  I  remonstrated,  "  that  Miss  Ferris  is 
a  perfect  child  in  all  but  years,  and  acts  impulsively  as 
her  feelings  prompt  her.  She  has  had  such  a  bitter  ex- 
perience thus  far,  that  it  would  be  cruel  to  check  the 
few  childish  qualities  remaining  with  her.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Masters  were  delighted  to  find  her  exhibiting  some 
of  the  gayety,  and  if  you  will  call  it  so,  silliness,  natu- 
ral to  her  age." 

My  sister  laughed,  and  patted  my  arm. 

"John,"  she  said,  "to  hear  you  talk,  one  would 
think  you  were  about  eighty.  Don't  play  you  are  so 
old,  at  least,  until  you  look  it.  It  would  never  do  for 
Miss  Ferris  to  lose  her  heart  to  you,  and  just  at  present 
you  are  the  first  object  in  her  thoughts.  She  makes  no 
secret  of  the  fact ;  it  shines  in  her  eyes,  and  shows  in  all 
her  actions." 

"  Which  proves  exactly  to  Avhat  the  feeling  amounts," 
I  said.  "  It  is  gratitude,  and  childish  admiration.  Being 
the  first  one  to  protect  her;  she  naturally  clings  to  me, 


IN  WHICH   MY    SUSPICIONS   AEE   CONFIRMED.          77 

and  invests  me  with  qualities  that  I  do  not  possess.  At 
present  I  am  her  hero  ;  it  will  not  last  very  long.  Three 
years  from  now,  when  she  is  prepared  to  take  her  place 
in  society,  young,  beautiful,  and  fascinating,  her  feeling 
for  me  will  Ibe  the  same — only  modified ;  enthusiastic 
admiration  and  affection  you  may  call  it,  but  certainly 
not  love." 

"And  would  you  have  it  otherwise,  John?"  my 
sister  asked.  "Remember  her  wealth,  and  the  differ- 
ence in  age  between  you." 

"Exactly  so,"  I  answered.  "When  she  is  beginning 
life,  surrounded  by  all  the  influences  that  render  it  at- 
tractive, I  shall  be  a  gray-haired,  old  doctor,  poring 
over  my  dusty  books,  and  going  my  usual  rounds  with- 
out a  thought  of  any  thing  outside  of  my  profession." 

"  Ah,  John,  if  you  would  only  marry  some  nice  girl 
suited  to  you  in  age — but  there  is  no  use  in  proposing 
such  a  thing  to  you.  You  are  a  more  confirmed  old 
bachelor  every  time  we  meet."  And  my  sister  left  me, 
without  having  penetrated  or  even  suspected  my  secret. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

IN  WHICH  MBS.   FEEEIS  MAKES  A  MOVE. 

MY  sister  spent  several  days  in  the  city,  making 
necessary  purchases  of  books,  drawing-materials,  music, 
and  so  forth,  calculated  to  make  a  very  learned  woman 
out  of  my  innocent  little  patient,  who  still  ran  to  meet 
me  whenever  I  came  in  after  being  away  for  some  hours. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masters  had  become  so  attached  to  their 
.ward,  that  considerations  for  her  safety  alone  could 
have  induced  them  to  part  Avith  her.  A  warm  feeling 
of  affection  was  already  forming  between  her  and  my 
sister,  so  that  they  appeared  to  regard  each  other  as 
friends  rather  than  as  teacher  and  pupil.  I  almost 
envied  my  sister  the  pleasant  task  of  cultivating  the 
talents,  and  forming  the  tastes  of  this  young  girl, 
whose  naturally  ardent  temperament  and  inquiring 
mind  had  received  new  force,  and  were  asserting  them- 
selves in  a  high  degree.  We  formed  a  very  pleasant, 
very  happy  party,  and,  notwithstanding  the  coldness  of 
the  season,  thoroughly  enjoyed  our  sail  up  the  Hudson 
to  Albany.  We  found  my  mother  anxiously  awaiting 


IN   WHICH   MRS.    FERRIS   MAKES   A   MOVE.  79 

us,  and  prepared  to  give  us  all  a  warm  welcome,  espe- 
cially Miss  Ferris,  for  whom  her  deepest  sympathies 
were  excited.  The  latter  danced  about  the  house,  ex- 
amining with  interest  all  her  new  possessions,  and  prom- 
ising to  be  very  good  and  patient  in  making  the  best 
use  of  her  time.  I  explained  to  her  that  neither  of  her 
friends  could  visit  her  often,  and  the  necessity  for  this 
precaution.  She  acquiesced  silently  in  all  our  plans, 
and  promised  to  be  as  happy  and  contented  as  she 
could.  However,  in  spite  of  all  her  good  resolutions, 
she  parted  from  us  very  reluctantly,  and  the  last 
glimpse  we  had  of  her,  as  we  drove  away,  she  was 
leaning  against  the  gate,  crying  bitterly. 

I  returned  to  my  house  and  practice,  to  the  great 
delight  of  my  patient  and  much-enduring  professional 
brother  who  had  so  kindly  performed  my  duties 
throughout  my  long  absence.  To  say  that  the  house 
was  duller  and  gloomier  than  ever,  does  not  express  it. 
It  was  only  by  throwing  off  all  recollections  of  the 
weeks  just  passed,  and  pursuing  my  work  with  re- 
doubled energies,  that  I  could  at  all  content  myself  in 
my  chosen  mode  of  living.  The  secret  which  I  had  hid 
from  others  was  torturing  me.  I  had  made  up  my  mind 
to  bury  it,  and  in  time  overcome  it.  A  matter  easier  to 
imagine  than  to  accomplish.  In  spite  of  her  wilduess, 
her  misery,  and  her  ignorance,  Miss  Ferris  had  taken 
possession  of  my  whole  heart.  If  I  had  loved  her  in  all 
her  wretchedness,  her  present  altered  condition  had  not 
served  to  lessen  the  passion.  As  she  had  been,  some 


80  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

wild  Lope  of  one  day  possessing  her  had  seized  upon 
me.  When  I  pictured  her  to  myself  as  she  would  be  at 
some  future  day,  not  very  far  off,  I  felt  the  hope  fade 
and  die  out  of  my  heart.  "  The  feeling  must  be  over- 
come," I  said  to  myself;  "  action  and  study  will  drive  it 
away."  But  it  was  not  overcome  ;  nothing  I  undertook 
had  the  power  of  dispelling  or  modifying  it.  So  I  car- 
ried it  about  with  me  as  a  memento  of  something  past 
and  done  with,  and  allowed  no  ray  of  hope  to  shine 
upon  it,  or  color  it  with  aspirations  which  could  never 
be  realized. 

My  sister  corresponded  with  me  regularly,  and  spoke 
in  glowing  terms. of  her  pupil's  progress.  From  Mr. 
Masters  I  received  monthly  bulletins,  telling  of  Mrs. 
Ferris,  and  the  means  she  was  taking  for  Arabella's 
complete  restoration  to  health.  The  old  gentleman's 
letters  were  perfect  studies.  Mrs.  Ferris  little  knew 
the  amount  of  enjoyment  afforded  us  by  her  long,  care- 
fully-worded communications.  Mr.  Masters  quoted 
from  them  largely,  and  added  Ins  own  criticisms.  I 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  dear  old  man  was 
growing  younger  on  account  of  them.  Meanwhile  he 
forwarded  to  her  all  the  money  required  for  her 
daughter's  support,  as  calculated  by  her,  and  kept  a 
memorandum  of  the  same  in  his  desk.  Fortunately  for 
Miss  Ferris,  her  money  was  completely  under  the  con- 
trol of  this  good  old  man,  and.  Mrs.  Ferris  had  never 
interfered  in  the  management  of  it,  fearful  of  exciting 
suspicion  against  herself.  These  accounts  of  Miss  For- 


LST  WHICH   MKS.    FERRIS   MAKES   A   MOVE.  81 

ris's  health,  transmitted  from  various  cities  in  the  south 
of  Europe,  were  quite  curious  and  very  well  planned. 
Sometimes  she  had  improved  so  much,  that  Mrs.  Ferris 
felt  very  sanguine  about  her ;  then  again,  she  would 
sink  visibly,  and  cause  them  great  uneasiness.  The 
charges  for  medical  advice  were  surprising,  and  far  ex- 
ceeded any  thing  of  the  kind  ever  heard  of  before,  at 
least  by  me. 

My  sister's  reports,  on  the  contrary,  were  all  that 
could  be  desired ;  and  Mr.  Masters,  who  frequently  went 
up  to  see  her  and  her  pupil,  always  concluded  his  letters 
to  me  with  a  postscript,  thanking  me  for  the  wonderful 
plan  that  I  had  suggested.  He  also  was  in  the  habit  of 
informing  me  that  "  little  Belle's  progress  in  music  was 
quite  astonishing."  As  I  had  left  my  sister  strict  injunc- 
tions to  watch  Miss  Ferris's  health,  and  give  me  accurate 
reports  about  it,  I  was  able  to  gather  from  a  comparison 
of  the  two  accounts  a  very  good  idea  of  how  she  lived 
and  spent  her  time.  Evidently  she  was  very  happy, 
childlike,  and  free  from  care.  "  To  her  past  troubles," 
my  sister  wrote,  "  she  never  alludes,  and  I  don't  think 
that  her  mind  reverts  to  them  at  all,  she  has  so  many 
new  occupations,  and  they  are  all  so  strange  and  novel 
to  her.  As  for  mother,  I  shall  soon  become  jealous  for 
she  is  completely  wrapped  up  in  the  child." 

Occupied  by  my  duties  and  other  cares,  the  winter 

passed  by  almost  imperceptibly  to  me ;  and  I  remember 

being  surprised,  one  day  in  spring,  at  finding  some  early 

violets  peeping  up  from  a  hedge  by  the  roadside.    Dur- 

4* 


82  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

ing  the  summer  which  followed,  I  returned  my  friend's 
kindness,  and  took  charge  of  his  affairs  while  he  enjoyed 
a  long  vacation.  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  resist,  for 
a  while  at  least,  all  temptations,  and  therefore  refused 
my  sister's  repeated  invitations  for  "just  one  week's 
pleasure  of  my  company."  I  was  trying  to  determine  if 
the  old  maxim,  "  Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind,"  held  good 
in  my  case,  but  thus  far  it  had  decidedly  failed  in  doing 
so.  I  had  even  accepted  numerous  invitations  during 
the  winter  just  past,  and  had  been  introduced  to  many 
beautiful  and  accomplished  girls,  rich  in  all  the  attrac- 
tions that  wealth,  beauty,  and  knowledge  bestow  on 
their  happy  possessors.  Even  while  listening  to  their 
soft  voices,  and  catching  the  merry  glances  thrown  on 
me  from  their  bright  eyes,  I  would  find  myself  compar- 
ing with  them,  almost  unconsciously,  the  slight  form 
and  delicate  features  of  the  one  so  constantly  in  my 
thoughts.  Recollections  of  a  voice  whose  tones  were 
still  sweeter,  and  of  eyes  whose  loveliness  none  could 
equal,  would  come  over  me  at  all  times  and  in  all  places, 
filling  my  heart  with  hopeless  longings  for  that  which 
was  so  impossible  to  attain.  But  for  my  professional 
duties,  which  were  at  that  time  very  much  increased, 
and  their  great  responsibility,  I  do  not  know  what 
would  have  become  of  me. 

3Ir.  Masters  and  his  wife  did  not  leave  the  city  that 
sninmer,  as  Mr.  Parker  had  suddenly  reappeared  in  New 
York,  exciting  their  fears  by  his  curiosity  and  watchful- 
ness. He  had  given  some  plausible  excuse  for  his  long 


IN   WHICH   MKS.    FERKIS    MAKES   A   MOVE.  83 

absence  from  his  business,  and  professed  complete  igno- 
rance of  Mrs.  Ferris's  movements,  after  having  placed  her 
and  her  daughter  under  the  care  of  the  captain  on  whose 
ship  they  had  sailed  for  Europe.  He  was  very  particu- 
lar in  examining  all  the  papers  and  deeds  connected  with 
his  ward's  property,  and  expressed  himself  in  terms  of 
great  satisfaction  at.  the  result  of  some  of  Mr.  Masters' 
investments,  complimenting  him  very  highly  on  the 
manner  in  which  he  was  discharging  his  trust.  His  sur- 
prise at  the  large  sums  asked  for  by  Mrs.  Ferris,  for  the 
support  of  her  daughter,  was  well  affected,  and  quite 
amused  his  suspicious  partner,  who  was  rapidly  forming 
a  very  unfavorable  opinion  of  this  joint  guardian  of  Miss 
Arabella  Ferris. 

In  September  Mr.  Parker  again  left  New  York,  and 
my  friend,  Doctor  Miller,  for  whom  I  had  been  doing 
duty,  returned  to  Buffalo.  Another  winter  passed  away, 
during  which  Mrs.  Ferris's  letters  continued  in  the  same 
strain,  and  my  sister's  became  more  and  more  extrava- 
gant in  their  descriptions  of  the  beauty  and  talents  of 
her  interesting  pupil.  How  little  my  sister  guessed  of 
the  fresh  torture  given  me  by  every  letter  of  hers  that 
I  received !  How  little  she  would  have  understood  the 
contradictory  passions  they  stupcd.up  within  my  heart ! 
I  exulted  in  the  idea  that  my  conception  of  Miss  Ferris's 
powers  of  mind  had  not  been  a  mistaken  one ;  I  gloried 
in  the  thought  that  she  had  so  totally  overcome  the  dis- 
advantages of  her  childhood,  and  was  realizing  all  my 
fondest  hopes,  and  yet — yes,  it  must  be  acknowledged, 


84:  DK.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

I  felt  that  the  barrier  between  us  was  each  day  growing 
wider  and  deeper.  I  must  endeavor  to  subdue  these 
foolish  fancies,  and  be  content  to  see  her,  loving  and  be- 
loved, the  wife  of  some  younger  man,  one  more  suited 
to  her  age  and  temperament  than  I  could  ever  hope  to 
become.  I  reasoned,  or  rather  tried  to  reason,  myself 
into  the  bejief,  that  after  a  few  yeafs  I  should  be  quite 
willing  to  settle  down  into  the  position  of  a  trusted 
friend,  respected  and  loved  as  such,  with  my  chair  at 
the  table  and  my  place  by  the  fireside,  happy  at  the 
sight  of  her  happiness,  and  resigned  to  the  conviction 
that  another,  and  not  I,  was  the  cause  of  her  peace  and 
contentment. 

Before  another  September  came,  I  had  almost  made 
up  my  mind  that  my  feelings  for  Miss  Ferris  had  as- 
sumed this  quiet,  passionless  state,  and  I  concluded  to 
take  a  trip  east  and  see  my  friends.  As  nearly  two 
years  had  gone  by  in  the  interval,  I  anticipated  a  very 
warm  reception,  and  determined  not  to  tell  them  of  my 
expected  visit,  but  to  enjoy  their  pleased  surprise.  One 
sultry  afternoon,  in  the  first  week  of  October,  I  opened 
the  gate  of  my  mother's  pretty  front  garden,  and  saun- 
tered up  the  pathway  toward  the  window  of  the  little 
room  in  which  she  usu^ly  sat  at  work.  Looking  in, 
there  she  was,  knitting  a  soft,  white  stocking,  destined 
for  my  next  winter's  comfort.  My  sister  sat  on  a  low 
chair  near  her,  sorting  seeds  into  various  little  papers 
laid  on  the  carpet  before  her.  I  looked  around  the  room 
in  vain  for  the  other  figure,  which,  I  am  afraid,  generally 


IN   WHICH   MRS.   FERRIS   MAKES   A  MOVE.  85 

occupied  the  chief  place  in  the  home  pictures  I  was  so 
accustomed  to  forming  in  my  imagination.  Overcoming 
the  disappointment  as  quickly  as  possible,  I  raised  my- 
self by  means  of  my  hands  to  an  old  position  of  mine 
on  the  window  ledge — quite  a  favorite  one  in  my 
boyish  days — and  bade  my  mother  and  sister  "  Good- 
afternoon." 

The  next  minute  their  arms  were  around  me,  and  be- 
tween hugging  and  kissing  I  at  length  reached  the  floor 
in  safety,  while  they  stood,  breathless  with  surprise  and 
delight,  looking  at  me. 

"  How  well  and  handsome  you  are  looking,  John ! " 
exclaimed  my  sister,  pushing  my  hair  away  from  my 
forehead ;  and  then,  as  usual,  throwing  her  arms  around 
my  neck  and  leaning  her  head  against  my  breast,  with 
tears  of  joy  standing  in  her  eyes. 

My  dear  sister,  she  believed  I  was  a  hero — and  we 
had  not  met  for  two  long  years. 

"  I  shonld  like  to  know  when  John  didn't  look  hand- 
some, the  dear  boy  ! "  my  mother  answered,  giving  me  a 
glance  of  mingled  love  and  pride  from  the  soft,  clear 
eyes  that  had  always  met  mine  thus  lovingly. 

"  It's  well  I  only  let  you  see  me  at  long  intervals,  or 
you  would  spoil  me.  What  would  my  patients  say  if 
they  should  behold  their  dignified  Doctor  Wilmer  being 
hugged  and  kissed  to  such  an  extent,  and  hear  him 
called  '  a  de»r  boy '  ?  Consider  my  age — thirty-six,  am 
I  not,  mother  ?  " 

"  Nonsense,  John  !  never  mind  your  age  ; "  and  my 


86  DR.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

mother  kissed  me  again,  calling  me  her  own  "  dear,  dear 
boy,  no  matter  how  old  I  might  be." 

"  John,"  said  my  sister,  "  all  this  time  you  have 
never  thought  of  asking  after  Belle." 

Hadn't  I,  though,  my  dear,  unsuspicious  sister  ? 

"  Where  is  she  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Gone  down  to  the  village,  to  see  one  of  her  friends 
who  has  been  very  ill  for  two  weeks.  She  goes  to  sit 
an  hour  or  two  with  her  every  afternoon." 

"  I  miss  the  child  very  much,"  remarked  my 
mother ;  "  but  it  is  pleasant  for  her  to  know  some  nice 
young  people  ;  she  would  feel  it  very  much  if  deprived 
of  their  society." 

"  Why  should  she  be  deprived  of  their  society  ?  "  I 
asked. 

"  Well,  there  really  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  she 
should  not  enjoy  their  little  parties  and  gatherings ;  but 
you  know  how  it  is — Mr.  Masters  is  so  afraid  of  her  be- 
ing recognized,  that  we  have  to  be  very  careful  about 
where  she  goes,  and  with  whom  she  meets." 

"  Mr.  Masters  is  perfectly  right,"  I  said.  "  The  con- 
sequences would  be  dreadful ;  in  another  year  she  can 
go  where  and  meet  whom  she  likes." 

"  She  is  not  remarkably  fond  of  society,"  my  sister 
said,  "and  when  she  took  a  fancy  to  Pauline  Lecount  I 
was  delighted.  Pauline  is  so  very  bright  and  gay,  she 
infects  every  one  that  comes  under  her  influence  with 
some  of  her  own  lightheartedness." 

"  Is  she  the  only  child  in  the  family  ?  "  I  asked. 


IN   WHICH   MKS.    FEBEI8   MAKES   A   MOVE.  87 

"  Oh,  not  at  all ;  there  is  an  immense  family  of  them, 
any  number  of  brothers  and  sisters.  I  believe  a  new 
one  turns  up  every  week  or  so,  that  has  been  spending 
a  year  with  some  relative  or  another ;  and  these  relatives 
appear  to  live  in  every  State  of  the  Union." 

"  Quite  a  family  they  must  be,"  I  said ;  "  does  Miss 
Ferris  only  fancy  one  of  them  ?  " 

"  Oh,  she  likes  them  all  more  or  less ;  but  Pauline  is 
decidedly  the  favored  one  of  the  lot.  They  are  of  French 
descent,  and  I  suspect  their  means  are  rather  limited. 
Mr.  Lecount  is  a  lawyer,  and  one  of  his  sons  is  in  the 
office  with  him.  They  are  very  talented  and  sociable, 
and  cultivate  such  pleasant  home  amusements  !  I  often 
wish  they  were  rich;  for  as  it  is,  they  are  very  hos- 
pitable, and  every  one  likes  to  visit  at  their  house." 

"  Yes,"  went  on  my  mother,  taking  up  the  subject 
where  my  sister  dropped  it. — "  Belle  told  me  last  night 
that  there  was  another  brother  home  on  a  visit  that  she 
never  saw  before.  He  practises  law  in  Philadelphia, 
and  very  seldom  has  an  opportunity  of  seeing  his 
family.  It  must  be  a  very  pleasant  thing,"  mused  my 
mother,  "to  own  such  a  fine  set  of  children,  all  out  in 
the  world  doing  for  themselves,  and  still  coming  back 
every  now  and  then  for  a  sight  of  the  old  home  and 
their  parents.  Now  the  girls  might  all  help,  there 
are  four  of  them,  but  the  old  folks  are  too  proud  to 
let  them  try.  I  wanted  one  of  them  to  teach  Belle 
French,  but  when  I  spoke  of  payment,  the  old  lady 
blazed  up,  and  said  that  she  was  willing  to  have  Belle 


88  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

join  them  in  their  French  readings,  and  conversations, 
but  '  Do  it  for  money  ?  oh !  no ;  it  was  hard  enough 
for  her  sons  to  have  to  work,  the  girls  were  ladies, 
and  no  matter  how  poor  they  might  become,  ladies  they 
should  remain.'  I  pity  their  old  aristocratic  ideas  in 
this  republican  country.  Of  course,  the  girls  expect 
to  marry  well,  and  BO  they  ought,  handsome  and  accom- 
plished as  they  are ;  but  suppose  they  don't,  what  will 
become  of  them?  The  young  men  will  marry,  and 
although  Mr.  Lecount  owns  his  place,  what  would  it 
be,  divided  among  so  many  ?  Veiy  foolish,  very  foolish 
of  them  indeed ! "  concluded  my  sensible  republican 
mother. 

While  she  had  been  giving  vent  to  her  opinions  of 
the  Lecounts,  I  had  retaken  possession  of  the  window- 
seat,  and,  although  listening  to  her  words,  had  been 
watching  with  interest  two  persons  coming  along  the 
road  toward  the  house.  One  was  a  young  man  of 
twenty-five  or  six,  tall  and  well-proportioned,  with  an 
easy,  graceful  carriage,  and  glossy  black  curls,  shaking 
and  shining  under  the  broad-brimmed,  low-crowned  hat 
that  he  wore.  He  was  pulling  a  rose  to  pieces,  leaf  by 
leaf,  while  talking  earnestly  to  the  young  girl  walking 
at  his  side.  This  young  girl's  face  was  concealed  from 
my  view  by  the  broad  leaf  of  her  straw  hat,  the  crown 
of  which  was  ornamented  with  natural  flowers,  evident- 
ly picked  from  the  basket  half  full  of  them  that  she 
carried  on  her  arm.  She  had  on  a  soft,  full,  white  mus- 
lin dress,  ornamented  at  the  neck,  waist,  and  wrists  by 


ix  wmcn  MRS.  FEEKIS  MAKES  A  MOVE.         89 

knots  and  ends  of  lilac  ribbon.  It  was  looped  up  over 
a  shorter  under-skirt  with  more  ribbons  of  the  same 
delicate  shade,  displaying  two  very  pretty  little  feet, 
cased  in  the  most  elaborately  trimmed  boots  that  I  had 
ever  seen.  To  my  surprise,  they  stopped  at  the  gate, 
and,  while  he  opened  it,  she  invited  him.  to  enter  the 
house  and  be  introduced  to  Mrs.  and  Miss  Wilmer.  I 
recognized  the  clear,  sweet  voice  at  once;  this  pretty 
vision,  then,  coming  tripping  up  the  path,  was  no  other 
than  my  once  wearied  little  patient,  so  tired  of  life  and 
all  its  miseries !  At  present,  the  bright  side  was  turned 
to  her,  tinged  with  its  fairest  coloring.  She  was  much 
taller,  and  her  figure  had  become  round  and  graceful  in 
the  two  years  that  had  passed  since  I  left  her,  leaning 
over  the  gate  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  watching  our  de- 
parture. She  stopped  in  the  path  to  point  out  a  car- 
nation pink  to  her  companion,  and  my  sister,,  catching 
sight  of  her,  remarked : 

"  There  is  Belle  now,  and  that  must  be  the  brother 
from  Philadelphia ;  I  have  not  seen  him  since  he  was  a 
schoolboy.  Shall  I  tell  her  that  you  are  here  ?  " 

"  No,  don't,"  said  my  mother ;  "  let  us  see  how  she 
will  behave.  Latterly,  she  has  hardly  mentioned  you 
to  us ;  either  your  continued  absence  has  offended  her, 
or  else  she  has  gradually  lost  her  interest  in  you.  The 
first  year  she  was  with  us  she  talked  of  you  incessantly, 
and  longed  to  see  you  every  week  as  impatiently  as  a  child 
of  six  years  would;  indeed,  though  she  is  nineteen  now, 
I  don't  know  any  child  more  innocent  and  impulsive." 


90  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

"  That  poor  young  fellow  seems  entirely  fascinated," 
said,  my  sister,  turning  from  the  window ;  "  I  only  hope 
lie  won't  put  her  down  for  a  perfect  little  flirt." 

"Why  should  he?" 

"  Why  ?  Simply  because  she  is  so  childish,  that  she 
is  pleased  with  every  one  she  meets,  takes  their  atten- 
tions, becomes  interested  in  them,  and  tries  to  make 
them  as  happy  as  possible.  Claude  Lecount  has  lost  his 
heart  to  her,  and  she  thinks  no  more  of  him  than  of 
any  of  his  brothers.  As  for  teaching  her  prudence,  it  is 
out  of  the  question.  Mr.  Masters  thinks  her  perfection, 
and  begs  of  us  not  to  let  her  understand  the  world  and 
its  ways.  Of  course,  to  us,  who  know  all  the  circum- 
stances, her  manner  is  not  unreasonable  or  unnatural ; 
but  could  you  convince  a  young  man,  brought  up  in  a 
large  city  like  New  York,  that  a  young  girl  could  reach 
the  age  of  nineteen,  in  this  century,  and  remain  so 
innocent  as  she  is?  Certainly  not;  those  two  broth- 
ers will  be  at  daggers'  points  about  her  in  a  week, 
and  will  mutually  agree  in  the  end  that  she  is  a  fin- 
ished flirt." 

My  sister's  prophecy  was  suddenly  cut  short  by 
hearing  the  hall  door  open,  and  the  next  moment  Miss 
Ferris  stood  on  the  threshold,  ushering  in  Mr.  Louis 
Lecount.  She  did  not  see  me  at  first,  as  I  sat  on  the 
window-seat ;  and  while  introducing  her  escort  in  her 
pretty,  original  style— "Mrs.  Wilmer,  this  is  Pauline's 
brother  Louis  " — she  removed  her  hat,  thereby  display- 
ing her  bright  eyes,  and  a  mass  of  curls  shading  them 


IN*  WHICH   MRS.    FEKKIS   MAKES    A   MOVE.  91 

and  her  throat.  Crossing  the  room  to  hang  up  her 
basket,  she  suddenly  saw  me.  For  a  second  she  stood 
pale  and  mute  with  surprise ;  the  next,  she  had  her  arms 
round  my  neck,  laughing  and  crying  for  joy. 

Mr.  Louis  Lecount  looked  rather  astonished,  while  my 
sister  tried  to  explain  what  great  friends  we  were,  and 
how  we  had  not  met  for  two  years.  The  young  gentleman 
rose  after  a  few  minutes,  and  took  his  leave,  promising 
to  call  again.  I  quite  admired  his  good  taste,  particu- 
larly as  Miss  Ferris  had  become  almost  unconscious  of 
his  presence  in  the  room,  and  was  sitting  near  me,  with 
beaming  eyes,  pouring  out  question  after  question  rela- 
ting to  the  circumstances  which  had  prevented  me  from 
coming  home  for  such  a  "  long,  long  time." 

I  found  it  difficult  to  make  excuses  for  my  absence,  it 
being  impossible  to  tell  her  the  real  one ;  and  sitting 
thus,  looking  into  her  clear,  truthful  eyes,  and  listening 
to  her  sweet  voice  as  she  met  and  put  aside,  as  utterly 
ridiculous,  my  best  arguments,  I  felt  that  my  good  reso- 
lutions had  all  vanished,  and  that,  instead  of  having 
overcome  my  foolish  love,  it  was  mastering  me  more 
strongly  than  ever.  I  determined  to  shorten  my  visit ; 
it  would  be  misery  to  see  her  happy  in  the  attentions  of 
these  two  young  men,  one  of  whom  would  probably 
succeed  in  gaining  her  'heart.  If  I  were  older,  I  might 
be  enabled  to  view  it  all  witli  the  best  wishes  for  her 
happiness,  and  without  a  regret  for  my  own  disappoint- 
ment ;  if  I  were  younger,  I  might  enter  the  lists  as  a  rival 
of  these  two  attractive  admirers.  As  it  was,  my  cause 


92  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

was  hopeless.  Would  she  have  run  into  my  arms,  every 
feature  lit  up  with  joy  and  affection,  had  she  regarded 
me  otherwise  than  as  a  dear  friend,  holding  to  her  the 
place  of  an  uncle  or  an  elder  brother,  who  could  ^appre- 
ciate these  marks  of  love  without  placing  too  high  a 
value  on  them,  or  in  any  way  misunderstanding  them? 
Decidedly,  her  feeling  for  me  was  the  same  as  it  ever  had 
been — enthusiastic,  demonstrative,  unconcealed  ;  but  it 
did  not  satisfy  me.  Its  very  exhibition  only  caused  me  to 
draw  comparisons  between  it  and  the  expression  of  that 
deeper  sentiment  for  which  I  longed  in  vain.  Thus, 
while  she  exerted  herself  to  make  me  happy,  and  talked 
unreservedly  of  the  progress  she  had  made  in  all  her 
studies,  and  of  the  heavy  debt  of  gratitude  she  owed  me, 
she  unconsciously  added  to  the  weight  of  bitterness  that 
was  overpowering  me. 

"We  had  wandered  into  the  parlor,  where  her  books 
and  music  were  scattered  about ;  and  my  sister  was  busy 
preparing  supper  in  the  other  room.  Miss  Ferris  drew 
my  attention  to  a  stand  of  exquisite  flowers  in  one  of 
the  windows.  Turning  to  make  a  remark  about  them,  I 
was  surprised  to  find  her  leaning  against  the  wall,  with 
her  face  hidden  from  me.  Something  dejected  and 
strange  in  her  attitude  struck  me,  and  I  bent  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  her  face.  She  was  crying  silently,  in  the  old 
way  that  I  had  so  often  noticed  at  Niagara. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Belle,"  I  asked ;  "  what  troubles 
you  ?  " 

"  I  can't  tell ;  I  am  silly,  but  you  are  so  changed,  so 


m  WHICH   MES.    FEBKIS   MAKES   A  MOVE.  93 

cold  and  distant — did  I  offend  you  ?  "  As  she  spoke,  she 
put  her  little  hand  on  my  arm,  and  looked  in  my  face 
with  the  old  sorrowful  expression  in  her  eyes. 

What  was  I  to  do  ?  put  aside  all  ideas  of  honor — tell 
her  how  I  loved  her — and  accept  from  her  deep  gratitude 
the  assent  not  prompted  by  her  heart  ?  No,  better  she 
should  think  me  cold  and  indifferent,  than  that  such  a 
sacrifice  should  be  made;  better  be  misjudged,  than 
cause  her  any  future  unhappiness.  So  I  only  took  her 
hand  softly  in  mine,  and  assured  her  that  she  had  not 
offended  me  in  the  least,  and  that  she  must  make  a  little 
allowance  for  my  surprise  at  finding  so  much  alteration 
in  herself. 

"  You  have  grown  into  a  young  lady,"  I  went  on  in 
a  jesting  tone,  though  I  had  never  felt  more  sad  in  my 
life,  "  and  I  left  you  quite  a  child ;  are  you  sure  you  are 
quite  strong  now  and  happy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  very  strong ;  my  head  never  troubles  me,  and 
I  am  so  happy  that  sometimes  I  tremble  lest  it  should 
not  last.  Every  time  I  see  my  dear  guardian  I  feel  more 
and  more  what  it  would  be  to  have  my  step-mother  dis- 
cover me.  I  would  rather  die  than  go  back  to  her  treat- 
ment. Do  you  know  that  I  count  the  days  as  they  go 
by,  and  time  flies  too  slowly  for  me !  There  are  ten 
months  yet  to  come  before  I  can  feel  free  and  at  ease." 

"  But  you  are  safe  here ;  certainly  out  of  danger  of 
any  recognition  by  your  old  friends  and  acquaintances. 
This  is  such  a  quiet  place,  people  never  come  here  for 
either  business  or  pleasure." 


94:  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

"  Very  few,  but  still  one  would  "be  sufficient,  provided 
that  one  was  a  friend  of  ours.  It  would  all  be  done  in- 
nocently, because  nobody  knows  what  you  do.  All  our 
acquaintances  thought  that  Mrs.  Ferris  was  '  passionate- 
ly attached  to  her  little  daughter.'  How  often  have  I 
heard  that  expression,  while  standing  or  sitting  in  the 
room  with  company !  It  always  made  me  shiver,  and 
once  I  had  an  indistinct  idea  that  'passionately  at- 
tached'was  only  a  fine  expression  for 'hate' — indeed 
I  had." 

"  And  what  idea  have  you  about  it  now  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  don't  like  the  expression  at  all ;  it  always  meant 
so  little  to  me,  that  even  now,  when  Pauline  Lecount 
tells  me  that  she  is  passionately  attached  to  this  or  that 
person,  I  can't  feel  that  she  cares  for  them  at  all." 

"And  is  she  'passionately  attached'  to  you?"  I 
asked. 

Miss  Ferris  smiled,  and  colored  slightly. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  "  that  is  what  she  says,  and 
she  told  me  last  evening,  as  a  great  secret,  that  her 
brother  Claude  was — " 

"  Was  also  passionately  attached  to  you — is  it  not 
so?" 

I  expected  another  blush,  but,  instead  of  coloring  or 
looking  down,  Miss  Ferris  raised  her  eyes  to  my  face, 
and  clasped  her  hands  on  my  arm. 

"You  know  it  don't  mean  any  thing,  and  if  you  are 
sure  that  you  are  not  angry  with  me,  I  will  tell  you  just 
what  I  think.'; 


IN  WHICH   MKS.    FEKEIS   MAKES   A    MOVE.  95 

I  shook  my  head  at  her,  and  she  went  on  in  her  old 
childish  way,  smiling  and  sighing  in  turn,  as  her  heart 
prompted  her. 

"  I  like  Pauline,  and  I  like  your  sister  and  mother,  and 
I  am  very  sure  that  I  like  my  dear  guardian  and  Mrs. 
Masters ;  how  can  I  help  loving  them  ? — think  of  all  I 
owe  them,  all  they  have  done  for  my  happiness — and  as 
for  you,  I  can't  tell  you  how  I  feel  toward  you.  Noth- 
ing I  could  do  or  say  would  repay  you  for  all  the  care 
you  have  ta^en  of  me.  All  I  can  do  is,  feel  your  good- 
ness, and  think  of  you  alway.  Do  you  know  that  I  can 
sit  quiet  and  see  before  me,  just  like  a 'series  of  pictures, 
every  thing  that  has  happened  since  I  first  saw  you  the 
night  my  father  died?  You  don't  know  how  I  have 
longed  for  you  to  talk  to  in  these  last  two  years ;  I  had 
ever  so  many  questions,  written  out,  that  I' wanted  you 
to  answer.  I  always  feel  that  I  can  be  as  childish  as  I 
like  with  you,  and  say  just  what  conies  into  my  head 
first.  You  will  not  misunderstand  me,  I  am  sure." 

"  No,  never,"  I  said  gently,  longing,  as  I  looked  at  her, 
to  stroke  the  soft  curls  that  fell  on  her  neck.  No  wonder 
she  thought  me  c<tfd  and  strange ;  I  was  struggling  to 
overcome  myself,  and  no  doubt,  in  the  effort,  became 
ten  times  sterner  and  more  silent  than  I  intended. 

"About  Claude  Lecount,"  she  continued — "how 
could  he  care  for  me  ?  I  never  did  any  thing  for  him 
except  to  sing  a  song,  or  play  a  piece  that  he  likes ;  and 
all  he  ever  did  for  me  was  to  give  me  a  few  flowers  out 
of  the  garden,  to  trim  my  hat  with.  He  is  very  pleas- 


96  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

ant,  and  as  kind  to  his  sister  as  he  can  be,  and  I  like  him 
for  that,  wouldn't  you  ?  " 

"Decidedly  I  would,"  I  replied,  looking  down  at  the 
earnest  eyes. 

"•ClaudS  'is  going  to  New  York  soon,"  she  went  on, 
slowly  rolling  and  unrolling  her  sash  as  she  spoke,  "  and 
Victor,  the  youngest  brother,  will  go  into  his  father's 
office  in  Claude's  place.  I  believe  all  the  sons  are  law- 
yers ;  they  study  with  their  father,  and  then  settle  in 
some  other  place  to  practise  their  profession.  I  think 
that  is  a  very  good  plan.  Mr.  Lecount  jokes  about  it, 
and  says  that  it  is  the  reason  why  they  are  all  such 
good  friends  with  each  other.  I  think,  if  I  had  a  brother 
or  a  sister,  I  should  never  wish  to  part  from  them  at  all." 

"And  yet,  Belle,  I  live  far  away  from  my  mother 
and  only  sister,  not  because  we  could  not  agree  togeth- 
er, but  because  circumstances  have  rendered  it  neces- 
sary. A  large  family,  like  your  friends  the  Lecounts, 
could  hardly  find  enough  to  do  in  a  little  dull  village' 
like  this.  You  will  miss  Claude  very  much,  will  you  not  ?  " 

"  No,  not  much,  I  have  so  many  things  to  occupy  my 
time;  and  then  he  says  he  will  be  ab_le  to  run  up  every 
Saturday  night,  and  spend  Sunday  at  home." 

"  And  his  brother  that  was  here,  just  now  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  I  never  saw  him  until  yesterday ;  he  very 
seldom  comes  home,  he  has  so  much  to  attend  to  in 
Philadelphia. " 

"  Have  they  ever  showed  any  curiosity  about  you  ?  " 
I  asked. 


IN  WHICH  MRS.    FERRIS   MAKES   A   MOVE.  97 

"They  never  ask  ine  any  questions.  Miss  "Wllmer, 
when  she  introduced  me  to  them,  told  them  that  I  was 
an  orphan  under  Mr.  Masters'  guardianship,  and  they 
have  never  tried  to  discover  any  thing  about  me — they 
are  too  polite.  I  wonder  what  they  would,  think  It  they 
knew  all  ?  "  The  poor  child  blushed  painfully  and  trem 
bled  visibly.  Was  it  possible,  I  thought,  that,  in  spite  of 
her  silence  and  gayety,  the  past  with  all  its  misery  was 
weighing  on  her  heart  ? 

"  You  must  not  think  of  those  things,"  I  said  gently  ; 
"  look  upon  all  those  past  troubles  as  trials  sent  to  you 
for  your  own  future  good ;  there  is  no  .shame  attached  to 
your  part  in  them,  and  you  must  never  allow  yourself 
to  fret  for  what  was  inevitable.  Some  day  you  will  see 
why  you  were  tried,  and  never  cease  to  acknowledge 
the  great  blessings  you  enjoy  at  present,  and  the  great 
field  for  doing  good  that  your  wealth  and  position  will 
throw  open  to  you  in  the  future." 

"And  do  you  think  I  ever  will  be  able  to  be  of  use 
in  the  world  ?  At  present  I  am  more  like  a  wax  flower 
under  glass  than  any  thing  else.  Mrs.  Masters  frets  if 
I  get  my  feet  damp,  and  Mr.  Masters  watches  me  as  if 
he  feared  every  breeze  would  cifrry  me  off." 

"Mr.  Masters  has  taken  &  great  responsibility  on 
himself,  and  I  can't  blame  him  for  being  over-careful 
of  you." 

"  John,  here  are  Mr.  and  'Mrs.  Masters  coming  up 
the  road !  "  cried  my  sister  at  the  door. 

Away  flew  Miss  Ferris  out  of  the  house  and  down 
5 


98  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

the  garden  path.  I  followed  leisurely,  and  found  Mr. 
Masters  breathless  from  the  embrace  she  had  given  him, 
and  Mrs.  Masters  undergoing  a  like  greeting.  Mr. 
Masters  nearly  shook  my  hand  off,  and,  in  the  midst  of 
declarations  and  exclamations  of  delight,  informed  me 
that  I  always  arrived  at  the  right  time,  and  that  he  had 
the  most  wonderful  piece  of  news  to  tell  us. 

"  But,  I  won't  say  a  word  until  after  tea,  and  then, 
when  we  are  all  together,  you  shall  have  it.  It  will  take 
more  breath  than  I  am  possessed  of  at  present,  owing 
to  the  hill  and  this  saucy  young  lady  on  my  arm."  The 
"  saucy  young  lady "  pulled  his  face  down  and  gave 
him  another  kiss  and  a  merry  smile.  It  was  a  pleasant 
sight  to  witness  the  happy  confidence  existing  between 
the  old  couple  and  their  bright  little  ward. 

Tea  over,  we  waited  patiently  for  the  "  wonderful 
news,"  and  Mr.  Masters,  having  taken  from  his  pocket  a 
large  European  letter,  laid  it  before  him  on  the  table 
and.  introduced  its  contents,  thus : 

"  N"ow,  Miss  Ferris,  here  is  a  letter,  full  of  long 
expressions  of  grief  and  trouble,  which  announces 
your  death  and  funeral,  and  even  a  model,  in  pen  and 
ink,  of  your  .grave  and  tombstone,  with  the  inscrip- 
tion complete.  What  do  you  think  of  that,  little 
Belle  ? "  and  he  kissed  her  gently,  for  her  face  had 
become  suddenly  grave  with  surprise  and  fear  at  the 
words. 

"Well,  what  will  that  woman  undertake  next?" 
asked  my  mother,  recovering  first  from  her  surprise. 


IN  WHICH   MES.    FERKIS   MAKES   A  MOVE.  99 

"Whereupon  Mr.  Masters  opened  the  letter,  and  gave 
it  to  us  at  full  length.  After  a  minute  account,  in  the 
most  high-flown  laiiguage,  of  all  she  had  done  to  benefit 
her  dear  child's  health,  she  gave  a  history  of  her  last 
hours  and  death,  which  she  described  as  having  been 
most  touchingly  serene  and  happy.  She  also  enclosed  a 
copy  of 'the  doctor's  certificate  of  death,  and  all  the 
bills  incidental  to  the  mournful  event,  which  was  sup- 
posed to  have  taken  place  in  Florence.  In  conclusion, 
she  begged  Mr.  Masters  to  communicate  the  tidings 
to  Mr.  Parker;  as  she  had  found  it  impossible,  in  the 
state  of  grief  she  was  in,  to  write  any  more  on-  the  sub- 
ject. She  also  trusted  the  charge  of  every  thing  to  them, 
knowing  that  they  would  do  right  by  her  in  her  deso- 
late condition ;  and,  as  she  intended  remaining  abroad 
until  her  health  should  be  entirely  reestablished,  she 
hoped  they  would  communicate  with  her  frequently, 
and  let  her  understand,  as  far  as  she  was  able  to  do  so, 
how  her  affairs  were  managed.  Mr.  Masters  laughed 
heartily  at  the  concluding  injunction. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  part  of  the  manage- 
ment of  her  affairs  she  couldn't  comprehend.  Why,  she 
can  tell  you  to  a  fraction  what  her  interest  should  be, 
and  as  for  making  investments,  she  is  as  sharp  as  a 
needle  in  that  line." 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Parker  at  present  ?  "   I  asked. 

"  In  New  Tork,  of  course.  I  need  not  tell  you  how 
astounded  he  was  at  my  news,  but  you  will  be  amused 
when  I  inform  you  that,  feeling  deeply  for  Mrs.  Ferris. 


100  DE.  TVTLMEB'S  LOVE. 

and  the  loneliness  of  her  position,  he  is  making  prepara- 
tions to  join  her  in  her  retirement  at  Florence ;  the 
ostensible  reason  for  the  trip  being,  the  necessity  of 
setting  before  her  and  explaining  to  her  the  exact  state 
of  her  late  husband's  affairs.  Of  course,  I  appreciate  the 
great  necessity  of  the  voyage,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but 
that  we  shall  receive  wedding-cards  before  six  months 
are  over." 

"  I  do  believe  that  this  affair  has  taken  ten  years  off 
Mr.  Masters'  age,"  remarked  his  wife,  with  a  bright 
smile  on  her  face.  "Before  it  happened,  he  was  always 
complaining  ;  now  there  is  nothing  too  difficult  for  him 
to  undertake,  and  he  is  as  active  and  bright  as  I  ever 
remember  him." 

"  Well,  little  one,  what  do  you  think  of  it  all  ?  "  Mr. 
Masters  asked,  turning  to  Miss  Ferris. 

She  had  been  sitting,  listening  attentively  to  his 
story,  her  eyes  raised  to  his  face ;  now  she  colored  and 
looked  down. 

"What  do  I  think?"  she  repeated;  "I  think  that, 
only  for  Doctor  Wilmer,  part  of  that  letter  might  be  true. 
When  he  first  met  me  at  Niagara,  I  should  have  wel- 
comed death  gladly  in  any  shape,  as  a  blessed  release. 
He  is  the  only  one  here  who  can  realize  the  truth  of 
what  I  say;  he  knows  what  I  was  suffering,  and  how 
his  kind  words  and  anxious  care  alone  gave  me  the 
courage  to  wish  to  live." 

"My  dear  child,  don't  think  of  that  time,  if  it  makes 
you  nervous,"  Mrs.  Masters  said,  softly,  putting  her  arms 


IX  WHICH   MRS.   FEKEI3   MAKES   A   MOVE.          101 

round  the  trembling  girl.  "  Come  with  me,  and  show 
me  those  wonderful  orange-blossoms  that  you  have 
written  so  much  about ;  I  don't  know  when  I  saw  any 
growing  on  the  tree." 

"  They  are  curiosities,  and  quite  a  credit  to  Belle,  I 
can  assure  you,"  my  sister  said,  rising  and  following  the 
other  ladies  into  the  adjoining  room. 

"  I  am  sorry  I  said  any  thing  about  that  letter  before 
Belle,"  Mr.  Masters  remarked,  turning  to  me,  "but  I 
had  no  idea  that  it  would  have  such  an  effect  on  her. 
How  very  nervous  she  is !  the  least  allusion  to  those  old 
troubles  seems  to  recall  them  to  her  so  vividly." 

"It  would  be  much  better  not  to  refer  to  them 
at  all  before  her,"  I  answered.  "  Seeing  me  was  suf- 
ficient novelty  for  one  day,  and,  for  some  years  at  least 
to  come,  any  over-excitement  will  have  a  very  bad 
effect  upon  her.  I  dread  the  idea  of  a  meeting  be- 
tween her  and  Mrs.  Ferris,  although  I  suppose  it  will 
be  necessary." 

"  Yes,  for  this  reason  Mrs.  Ferris  enclosed  an  obit- 
uary notice  for  me  to  send  to  the  different  morning 
papers.  Of  course,  I  don't  intend  helping  her  scheme 
by  doing  any  thing  of  the  kind ;  but  as  soon  as  she  is 
able,  if  she  has  not  done  so  already,  she  will  write  to 
her  friends  in  New  York  a  full  account  of  this  imaginary 
affair ;  and  as  I  can't  attempt  to  contradict  it  for  ten 
months,  it  will  of  course  be  fully  credited,  and  all  the 
acquaintances  she  ever  had  will  have  time  to  hear  the 
report,  talk  it  ovei',  and  make  it  an  established  fact  in 


102  DK.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

their  minds.  The  only  thing  to  be  done  is  jnst  to  invite 
all  these  people  to  the  house  as  soon  after  Belle  comes 
of  age  as  possible,  and  contrive  a  meeting  between  the 
two  ;  otherwise  I  shall  have  difficult  work  to  establish 
her  identity.  You  see,  I  couldn't  prove  it,  I  had  not 
seen  her  in  six  years ;  and  no  doubt  they  have  laid  their 
plans  so  as  to  be  ready  for  any  movement  that  I  might 
make  against  this  fabrication.  Your  testimony  and  my 
own  recollection  of  the  child  are  all  I  have  to  work 
upon.  "We  must  attempt  strategy;  and  if  Mrs.  lYrri.s 
in  her  surprise  should  prove  our  assertion  true,  why,  the 
whole  affair  would  be  settled — I  am  pretty  sure  she 
would  retire  from  the  field  without  a  word,  quite 
satisfied  if  we  did  not  prosecute  her  for  her  actions, 
although  I  think  such  a  case*would  stand  alone  in  the 
records  of  crime." 

"  They  would  have  to  frame  new  laws  of  punishment 
to  meet  it,"  I  replied.  "  But  if  we  only  succeed  in  es- 
tablishing Miss  Ferris's  identity,  and  restoring  her  to 
her  proper  position  in  perfect  health,  I  believe  we  can 
be  satisfied  to  leave  Mrs.  Ferris  in  the  hands  of  a  higher 
power.  Such  people  don't  die  without  their  sins  com- 
ing home  to  them  in  some  form,  even  if  the  retribution 
is  unknown  to  any  but  themselves." 

"  You  are  right,  Doctor  Wilmer,  quite  right ; 
though  I  have  felt  a  strong  desire  to  retaliate  on  that 
woman  some  of  the  misery  that  she  made  my  poor 
friend's  child  undergo.  However,  as  you  say,  ten 
months  from  now  we  can  turn  round  and  laugh  at  her ; 


IN  "WHICH   MRS.    FEBEIS   MAKES   A  MOTE.          103 

and  if  she  has  any  conscience — which  is  an  open  ques- 
tion— we  will  leave  her  to  its  mercy." 
,  Having  shaken  hands  over  our  agreement,  the  honest 
old  gentleman  lit  his  evening  cigar  and  strolled  out  on 
the  lawn  to  enjoy  it,  while  I  rejoined  the  ladies  in  the 
parlor. 


CHAPTER  V. 

IK"  WHICH   I   MEET   A   RIVAL. 

I  FOUND  that  the  two  brothers,  Louis  and  Claude 
Lecount,  had  arrived,  and  were  using  all  the  arguments 
in  their  power  to  induce  my  sister  to  allow  Miss  Ferris 
to  join  a  large  picnic  which  was  to  come  off  the  ensu- 
ing week.  While  Mr.  Louis  sat  near  her,  enlarging  on 
the  beauties  of  the  proposed  ^picnic  ground,  and  the 
very  agreeable  company  invited,  Mr.  Claude  leaned 
over  the  piano  and  explained  his  wishes  to  Miss  Ferris, 
who  sat  trifling  with  some  music  and  listening  atten- 
tively, with  sparkling  eyes  raised  to  his  face.  Having 
gone  through  an  introduction  to  Mr.  Claude,  I  took  a 
chair  near  Mrs.  Masters,  and,  while  hearing  the  dis- 
cussion, surveyed  my  supposed  rival. 

He  was  taller  and  handsomer  than  his  brother ;  more 
graceful,  if  that  were  possible,  and  possessed  that  easy 
elegance  of  manner,  that  faculty  of  always  knowing  ex- 
actly what  to  say  or  do  at  the  right  moment,  which, 
some  people  declare,  springs  from  self-conceit  and  pride, 
but  which,  I  think,  is  inborn  and  belongs  to  certain  per- 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET   A   EIVAL.  105 

sons  naturally.  At  least,  I  have  known  many  to  spend 
their  lives  trying  to  acquire  it,  while  the  envied  pos- 
sessors of  it  remained  unconscious  of  their  rich  gift. 
However  that  may  be,  Mr.  Claude  Lecount  was  very 
much  at  home  in  my  mother's  house,  and  appeared  to 
be  on  terms  of  the  closest  friendship  with  Miss  Ferris. 
Occasionally  she  would  throw  me  a  bright  glance,  which 
I  observed  him  follow  with  surprise  ;  and  when  at  last, 
driven  from  want  of  further  excuses  to  appeal  to  me, 
my  sister  turned  and  asked  me  to  decide  the  question, 
he  put  down  the  music  he  was  holding,  and  regarded 
me  with  a  look  in  which  curiosity  and  dislike  were 
largely  blended. 

"I  don't  think  it  would  be  quite  sensible,"  I  an- 
swered. Of  course  it  was  a  new  idea  to  them,  the  re- 
fusing such  a  pleasure  to  a  young  girl ;  and  knowing 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  explain  the  motives  con- 
trolling us,  I  made  every  allowance  for  their  evident 
disappointment  and  wounded  feelings. 

"  Miss  Belle  is  anxious  to  go,  and  my  sisters  have 
made /all  the  arrangements.  If  you  are  afraid  of  her 
taking  cold,  Miss  Wilmer,  I  don't  think  there  can  be 
any  danger.  Pauline  is  going-,  and  of  course  will  start 
for  home  before  it  becomes  damp,  and  Miss  Belle  is  to 
rido  in  the  carriage  with  her." 

Mr.  Claude  Lecount  said  this  with  an  assured  man- 
ner, as  though  it  was  quite  conclusive.  Belle  twisted 
her  pretty  hands  together  and  looked  toward  my  sister. 

"  Some  friends  of  ours,  the  Barrows,  are  coming  up 
5* 


106  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

for  it,"  broke  in  Mr.  Louis.  I  noticed  Miss  Ferris  trem- 
ble, and  look  at  me  appealingly. 

"  What  '  Barrows '  are  they  ?  "  I  inquired,  with  a 
quiet  gesture,  imposing  silence  on  her. 

"  They  live  in  Sixteenth  Street,  in  New  York ;  Mr. 
Barrow  is  a  lawyer,  and  his  sous  are  with  him.  Are 
you  acquainted  with  them  ?  " 

"  No,  I  am  not,"  I  replied  ;  but  I  could  see  that  Miss 
Ferris  was. 

"  They  are  such  nice  people,"  Mr.  Louis  went  on, 
"  some  of  mother's  oldest  friends,  and  she  has  not  seen 
them  in  years.  We  expect  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
from  their  visit,  and  mother  wished  very  much  to  make 
them  acquainted  with  Miss  Belle.  Miss  Barrow  will  be 
married  next  month,  and  the  girls  are  going  down  to 
the  wedding." 

"  Can't  you  alter  the  decision  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Claude, 
turning  to  Miss  Ferris,  and  speaking  in  an  undertone. 

"  Doctor  Wilmer  knows  best,  and  I  always  do  as  he 
says,"  was  the  clear,  innocent  answer. 

The  two  brothers  looked  at  me,  and  my  sister,  rising 
hastily,  proposed  some  music.  Mrs.  Masters,  who  had 
not  taken  part  in  the  question,  joined  in  the  request ; 
and  so  Miss  Ferris  sang  some  solos,  and  then  some 
duets,  in  a  clear,  sweet  voice,  which  harmonized  per- 
fectly with  Mr.  Claude's  full  tenor.  I  cannot  tell 
whether  admiration  or  jealousy  rose  strongest  within 
me — I  fear  the  latter.  When  at  last  the  gentlemen 
took  their  leave,  I  was  in  such  a  state  of  torture  that  I 


IN  WHICH  I  MEET  A  RIVAL.  107 

could  hardly  command  my  voice  sufficiently  to  answer 
Mr.  Masters'  remarks  on  Belle's  wonderful  love  and 
talent  for  music. 

The  next  morning,  when  I  rose,  I  heard  the  birdlike 
tones  coming  to  me  from  the  parlor  directly  under  my 
room,  where  she  was  practising.  Some  of  the  words 
were  distinct,  and  it  stmck  •  me  at  the  time  that  she 
sang  them  with  a  great  deal  of  expression  for  one  so 
young.  It  was  Franz  Abt's  exquisite  melody,  "  When 
the  Swallows  Homeward  Fly,"  then  new  to  me,  but 
since  become  my  favorite  song.  The  words, 

"  Hush  my  heart,  why  thus  complain  ? 
Thou  must  too  thy  woes  contain," 

found  an  answering  echo  in  my  heart.  After  all  my 
struggles  and  decisions,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  had  been  of  no  avail.  One  evening  in  her  com- 
pany had  scattered  them  all  like  straws  before  the 
wind,  and  I  was  as  far  from  peace  as  ever.  I  deter- 
mined to  go  on  to  New  York,  spend  some  time  there 
seeking  distraction  in  its  amusements,  and  then  return 
to  Buffalo,  without  trusting  myself  to  another  visit 
home.  Having  come  to  this  heroic  resolve,  I  went 
down-stairs,  and  met  Miss  Ferris  in  the  hall  with  her 
hat  on  her  head  and  a  basket  and  scissors  in  her  hand, 
about  going  to  cut  fresh  flowers  for  the  vases.  She  ex- 
claimed, with  delight  in  every  feature  of  her  face,  that 
I  must  go  with  her  and  carry  the  basket.  Half  way 
down  the  walk  she  caught  my  arm,  and,  looking  very 
grave,  asked — 


108  DB.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

"  What  am  I  to  do  if  the  Barrows  come  here  and 
stop  at  Mrs.  Lecount's  ?  They  were  very  intimate  with 
Mrs.  Ferris,  and  she  exhibited  ine  to  them  as  if  I  were 
a  wild  animal  the  day  before  she  took  me  to  that 
asylum.  They  would  be  sure  to  recognize  me ;  and 
even  my  name,  if  they  hear  it,  will  excite  their  cu- 
riosity." 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  something  will  detain  them 
in  New  York  for  the  next  ten  months  ;  but  in  case  the*y 
do  arrive,  you  must  stay  in-doors  and  refuse  yourself  to 
all  visitors.  Taking  you  away  for  a  week,  unless  it 
might  be  down  to  the  city,  would  be  almost  as  dan- 
gerous as  remaining  here ;  there  are  so  many  returning 
now  from  the  watering-places,  the  cars  and  the  boats  are 
all  crowded.  We  must  consult  Mr.  Masters.  Does  he 
know  this  family  ?  " 

"  That  I  cannot  tell,  perhaps  not ;  I  don't  remember 
seeing  them  in  the  house  before  papa's  death.  I  think 
they  belong  to  Mrs.  Ferris'  set  altogether." 

It  turned  out  that  Mr.  Masters  had  never  seen  one 
of  the  Barrows,  and  only  knew  them  by  reputation. 
They  were  probably  just  as  ignorant  of  his  existence ; 
so  we  concluded  to  remain  at  home,  and  trust  that  no 
recognition  might  occur.  That  afternoon  Miss  Ferris 
went  to  spend  a  few  hours  with  her  friend,  and  Mr. 
Masters  and  I  took  a  long  ride  in  the  country,  leav- 
ing the  three  ladies  to  a  social  conversation  over  their 
knitting.  On  returning  we  found  an  urgent  invitation 
to  spend  the  evening  at  Mr.  Lecount's ;  so,  after  tea,  to 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET  A   BTVAL.  109 

which  Miss  Ferris  did  not  return,  we  strolled  down  there 
in  the  twilight. 

The  house  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county,  and 
built  of  stone,  strong  and  substantial  enough  in  material 
and  extent,  but  with  an  aspect  of  decay  hanging  around 
it,  most  observable  in  the  out-houses,  which,  though  very 
picturesque,  hinted  at  limited  means.  The  garden  trees 
were  overgrown,  and  their  branches  joined  above  the 
path,  rendering  it  quite  dark  on  leaving  the  open  road. 
The  grass  was  rank  on  the  lawn,  the  flower-beds  so 
overspread  by  weeds  and  tangled  vines  as  to  make  the 
plants  in  them  undistinguishable.  I  had  leisure  to  note 
these  things  as  we  picked  our  steps  slowly  over  the 
neglected  pathway,  and  reached  at  last  a  long,  low 
piazza,  half  hidden  by  a  trellis,  which  was  entirely  cov- 
ered with  luxuriant  vines  of  various  kinds.  As  we  ap- 
proached, voices  were  audible ;  and  as  we  crossed  the 
piazza  the  fluttering  of  her  white  dress  drew  our  atten- 
tion to  Miss  Ferris  seated  on  a  rustic  bench,  listening  to 
the  low  tones  of  Mr.  Claude  Lecount,  wTho  leaned  against 
the  lattice-work.  Some  rays  from  the  fast-declining  sun 
had  penetrated  the  thick  foliage,  and  were  darting  about 
her  head  and  face,  bringing  out  the  rich  coloring  of  her 
hair,  and  making  it  shine  like  threads  of  gold. 

She  rose  hastily  to  meet  us  with  an  exclamation  of 
pleasure  on  her  lips.  I  thought  her  companion  hardly 
liked  the  interruption.  However,  he  smoothed  his  fore- 
head and  came  forward,  welcoming  us  most  gracefully. 
The  parlor,  which  we  entered  through  the  low  windows 


110  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

opening  on  the  piazza,  was  a  large,  square  room,  filled 
with  massive  old-fashioned  furniture,  placed  in  such  a 
way  as  to  form  little  nooks  and  corners,  where  two  or 
three  persons  could  sit  and  converse  quite  independent 
of  other  groups  near  them.  At  the  far  end  of  it  such  a 
little  group  was  gathered  round  a  table,  on  which  a  very 
brilliant  lamp  was  burning.  They  put  aside  their  vari- 
ous employments  as  we  entered,  and  rose  to  receive  us. 

Mrs.  Lecount  was  a  tall,  elegant  woman,  from  whom, 
without  a'  doubt,  the  sons  had  inherited  their  singular 
beauty  and  grace.  Miss  Pauline  had  resumed  her  reclin- 
ing attitude  on  the  sofa  with  a  deep  sigh,  as  if  exhaust- 
ed by  the  effort  she  had  made  in  rising  ;  and  while  an- 
swering the  various  questions  concerning  her  health  put 
to  her  by  my  anxious  mother  and  sister,  I  could  perceive 
the  close  scrutiny  with  which  she  regarded  us  all  in 
turn. 

She  was  a  most  beautiful  brunette,  with  bands  of 
shining  black  hair  framing  her  face,  and  large  almond- 
shaped  eyes,  which  appeared  to  darken  and  lighten  ac- 
cording to  the  varied  feelings  she  was  experiencing. 
That  Miss  Ferris  admired  her  was  most  certain;  she 
took  her  accustomed  seat,  a  low  chair,  near  her  friend's 
sofa,  and  listened  attentively  to  the  conversation  that 
followed. 

As  I  anticipated,  they  commenced  with  the  picnic. 
As  we  had  no  good  reasons  with  which  to  meet  their 
combined  arguments,  I  could  not  wonder  at  the  per- 
plexed glances  thrown  at  me  from  all  sides,  paiticularly 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET  A   EIVAI,  111 

from  Miss  Pauline's  searching  eyes,  when,  as  on  the 
previous  occasion,  Miss  Ferris  again  left  the  decision 
to  me. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  evening  I  found  myself 
an  object  of  great  interest  to  that  young  lady.  She 
was  evidently  trying  to  place  me  with  regard  to  Miss 
Ferris,  and  felt  rather  puzzled  as  to  the  right  I  possessed 
of  controlling  the  latter's  actions.  Once  the  picnic 
subject  was  dropped,  I  became  silent,  and,  leaning  back 
in  my  corner  of  the  sofa,  amused  myself  contemplating 
the  others  in  the  party,  and  trying  to  make  sense  of  the 
various  scraps  of  conversation  that  reached  me.  An- 
other lady,  Miss  Marie  Lecount,  whom  I  judged  to  be 
the  eldest  daughter,  now  joined  the  circle,  and  com- 
menced an  animated  discussion  on  zephyr  wool,  double 
and  single,  with  my  sister.  Mrs.  Lecount  and  my 
mother  were  deep  in  the  mysteries  of  household  econo- 
my, and  I  could  easily  observe  how  Miss  Pauline  was 
working  her  plans.  Mr.  Ltcount,  a  tall  old  gentleman, 
with  white  hair  and  a  kindly  manner,  was  talking 
politics  with  Mr.  Masters  and  his  son  Louis. 

Thus  the  young  people  were  left  to  themselves,  with 
only  Miss  Pauline,  as  it  were,  tQ  make  up  the  pleasant 
little  group  of  three.  Miss  Ferris,  from  her  low  seat  by 
the  sofa,  could  pay  attention  to  her  friend,  and  at  the 
same  time  hear  every  word  addressed  to  her  by  Mr. 
Claude,  who  occupied  the  other  corner  of  his  sister's 
sofa.  Mr.  Louis  at  last  made  a  diversion  in  the  room, 
by  taking  up  a  flute  and  proposing  some  music.  Jlis 


112  DB.  WELMEE'S  LOVE. 

brother  escorted  Miss  Ferris  to  the  piano  and  turned 
over  her  music  while  she  accompanied  him  in  a  very 
pretty  duet. 

I  was  listening  to  it  attentively,  when  a  touch  from 
Miss  Pauline's  fan  drew  my  attention. 

"  Excuse  my  seeming  rudeness,  Doctor  Wilmer,  but 
I  have  been  quite  ill,  and  am  only  now  commencing  to 
go  about  again." 

She  had  changed  her  seat  for  one  quite  close  to  me, 
and  was  gazing  earnestly  into  my  face.  I  answered 
her,  saying,  that  Miss  Ferris  had  told  me  about  her,  and 
that  I  had  not  expected  to  meet  her. 

"  I  had  heard  so  much  about  you  from  Belle,  I  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  of  coming  down  to  see  you.  I 
believe  you  have  known  her  a  long  time,  and  she  speaks 
of  you  with  such  enthusiasm  ! " 

"  I  remember  her  since  she  was  quite  a  little  girl," 
I  replied. 

"  She  seems  to  regard  yorp  somewhat  as  a  guardian, 
or  elder  brother.  Poor  little  dear !  to  think  she  is  an 
orphan,  with  neither  brother  nor  sister ;  how  sad  it  ap- 
pears to  me,  for  I  am  surrounded  by  near  relatives." 

"  You  have  great  reasons  to  feel  thankful,"  I  an- 
swered ;  "  Miss  Ferris'  position  is  a  strange,  and  I  hope 
an  uncommon  one.  However,  she  is  not  unhappy,  and 
I  think  she  possesses  talents  which  will  in  a  great 
measure  make  up  to  her  for  the  want  of  relations." 

"  I  never  saw  any  one  so  passionately  fond  of 
flowers ;  she  and  Claude  never  tire  of  taking  care  of 


IN  WHICH   I  MEET   A   EIVAL.  113 

them,  and  as  for  music,  their  tastes  in  it  agree  per- 
fectly." 

I  fell  into  a  fit  of  musing  after  this  last  speech.  It 
occurred  to  me  that  I  too  was  a  great  admirer  of  flowers 
and  music.  Before  going  to  college,  I  had  always  taken 
care  of  my  mother's  flower-garden.  I  had  planted  and 
watered  it,  and  visions  of  numberless  slips  that  I  had 
set  out,  great  geraniums  and  oleanders  that  I  had 
transplanted,  and  wreathing  clematis  and  woodbine 
that  I  had  trained  over  the  windows  and  porches,  rose 
before  my  eyes.  Then,  too,  had  I  not  played  the  organ 
and  led  the  choir  in  the  village  church ;  and  had  not 
more  than  one  of  the  congregation  remarked  on  the 
sweetness  of  my  voice,  and  the  clearness  of  my  touch? 
Looking  back,  it  seemed  as  though  another,  and  not  I, 
had  been  the  actor  in  those  scenes.  The  busy  years  of 
college-life,  and  the  sharp  struggles  which  succeeded 
them  in  the  race  for  reputation  and  fortune,  had  almost 
blotted  from  my  memory  the  recollections  of  the  dear 
old  days  of  home  and  boyhood.  Would  Mr.  Claude 
Lecount,  twelve  years  hence,  after  battling  with  the 
world  and  its  corroding  influences,  be  as  fond  of  these 
innocent  amusements  as  he  was  at  present,  particularly 
when  pursued  in  the  society  of  a  beautiful,  artless  girl, 
whose  every  impulse  was  instantly  visible  in  the  clear, 
confiding  eyes,  and  unaffected  manner?  I  doubted  the 
fact ;  Mr.  Claude  Lecount  was  only  human.  Very  few 
men  come  out  of  the  conflict  with  feelings  as  fresh,  with 
hearts  as  generous  and  open,  and  confidence  in  their 


114:  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

fellow-beings  as  strong  as  when  they  enter  the  arena 
of  life.  And  yet  Mr.  Claude  was  displaying  great 
wisdom,  for  surely  if  there  is  any  earthly  power  which 
tends  more  than  another  to  make  a  man  retain  his  trust 
in  human  nature,  it  is  the  love  and  companionship  of  a 
true  woman,  whether  she  be  his  wife,  his  mother,  his 
sister,  or  only  a  tried  friend.  Therefore  I  did  not  blame 
Mr.  Claude  for  discovering  in  Miss  Ferris  the  charms 
that  I  admired  so  much,  nor  did  I  envy  him  his  advan- 
tage of  youth ;  I  only  felt  settling  down,  as  it  were,  over 
me,  a  dull  weight  of  despondency,  which  I  feared  I 
would  never  be  able  to  shake  off.  Miss  Pauline's  voice 
again  broke  in  upon  my  reverie. 

"  You  reside  altogether  in  Buffalo,  Doctor  Wilmer 
Do  you  like  it  there  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  become  attached  to  the  place  and 
people ;  it  would  be  like  commencing  life  again  to  leave 
my  practice  there." 

"  How  uncomfortable  that  must  be  for  your  family 
here !  they  cannot  hope  to  enjoy  much  of  your  society ; 
and  then,  I  should  think,  as  Belle's  guardian,  you  would 
prefer  being  nearer  to  them." 

"Do  not  remain  under  a  false  impression,  Miss 
Lecount  ?  I  am  not  guardian  to  Miss  Ferris ;  Mr.  Masters 
was  left  trustee  of  both  her  and  her  property,  under  her 
father's  will." 

"  That  I  was  aware  of,  your  sister  explained  it  to 
us  ;  but  still  I  thought  you  might  have  something  to  do 
with  her  education  or  propof  ty,  along  with  him." 


IN  WHICH    I   MEET   A   EIVAL.  115 

"  Nothing  whatever,"  I  answered. 

"  Then,  how  very  romantic  your  mutual  friendship 
is !  Belle  always  quotes  Dr.  Wilmer,  your  judgment  is 
quite  conclusive  with  her ;  and  hearing  your  name  so  fre- 
quently made  us  very  curious  to  meet  you,  and  I  cer- 
tainly expected  to  see  a  much  older  person." 

Here  Miss  Pauline  laughed  affectedly ;  and  having 
penetrated  her  motives,  I  felt  rather  amused  than  other- 
wise at  her  last  remark. 

"I  believe  I  hardly  look  venerable  enough  for  a 
Mentor,  and  I  have  never  tried  the  position,"  I  said. 
"  No  doubt,  hearing  me  referred  to  very  often  by  my 
mother  and  sister,  has  given  Miss  Ferris  the  habit  of 
doing  the  same  thing." 

I  saw  that  Miss  Pauline  suspected  an  unusual  under- 
standing between  Miss  Ferris  and  me,  an  idea  which 
the  former  had  unconsciously  helped  to  forward  by  so 
constantly  mentioning  my  name.  The  secret  of  our 
mutual  confidence,  however,  was  one  not  easy  to  pene- 
trate, and  Miss  Pauline's  attacks  remained  unheeded 
though  understood. 

After  the  music  was  ended,  the  conversation  became 
more  general.  I  particularly  noticed  that,  in  speaking, 
the  whole  family  mentioned  "  Belle  and  Claude  "  in  the 
same  breath,  as  if  they  were  understood  to  be  equally 
interested  in  the  subject  under  discussion.  It  annoyed 
and  pained  me.  I  could  see  clearly  how  the  others  pres- 
ent were  quietly  forwarding  Miss  Pauline's  scheme,  and 
I  knew  how  easily  a  young  girl,  completely  withdrawn 


116 

from  the  world,  might  be  induced  to  engage  herself  to  a 
gentleman,  fascinating  and  handsome,  like  Mr.  Claude. 
Once  her  word  was  passed,  she,  so  truthful  and  con- 
scientious, would  not  recall  the  promise  given,  while  too 
young  to  understand  the  wants  and  yearnings  of  her 
own  nature. 

I  determined  to  talk  the  matter  over  with  my  sister, 
but  was  I  the  one  to  do  it  ?  Could  I  conscientiously 
say  that  my  feelings  were  disinterested?  Was  I  a 
proper  judge  of  Mr.  Claude  Lecount,  his  heart,  and  his 
motives  ?  If  Miss  Pauline  saw  that  her  brother's  happi- 
ness depended  on  the  love  of  this  young  girl,  so  strange- 
ly thrown  among  them,  was  she  not  only  doing  a  sister's 
part  in  trying  to  secure  that  happiness  to  him  ?  Had  she 
not  a  perfect  right  to  view  in  me  a  dangerous  rival,  to 
be  met  and  defeated  with  the  weapons  of  artifice,  so 
powerful  in  the  hands  of  a  woman  of  depth  and 
shrewdness? 

I  think  that  from  that  first  evening  she  was  thor- 
oughly convinced  that  the  fascination  of  her  great  beauty 
would  have  no  effect  on  me.  In  a  measure  she  read  me 
as  truly  as  I  did  her ;  only  that,  where  I  understood  her 
whole  position  and  its  advantages,  she  could  not  com- 
prehend mine.  She  could  not  penetrate  the  powerful 
scruple  which  prevented  me  from  meeting  her  brother 
on  equal  grounds,  namely,  my  great  claim  on  Miss 
Ferris'  gratitude.  Therefore,  the  very  cause  which  held 
me  back,  quiet  and  constrained,  effected  in  her  the 
greatest  uneasiness.  She  could  not  attribute  bashful- 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET  A   EIVAL.  117 

ness  to  me,  and  my  silent,  undemonstrative  manner  gave 
the  impression  of  the  consciousness  of  power  possessed. 

On  rising  to  take  our  leave,  she  promised  to  return 
the  visit  as  soon  as  her  health  would  permit ;  and  Mr. 
Claude,  taking  up  his  hat.  drew  Miss  Ferris'  arm  through 
his  own,  and  they  sauntered  before  us  down  the  path. 
It  was  some  distance  to  the  gate,  and  when  we  reached 
it,  he  was  bidding  her  good-by,  holding  her  hand  in  his, 
while  he  addressed  to  her  some  earnest,  parting  words. 
He  wished  us  "  good-night "  pleasantly,  apologized  for 
not  going  all  the  way  with  us,  and,  raising  his  hat,  re- 
turned up  the  path  toward  the  house.  Miss  Ferris 
took  Mr.  Masters'  arm  and  remained  silent  for  some 
time,  a  very  unusual  thing  with  her. 

"  A  very  nice  young  fellow,"  Mr.  Masters  at  length 
ejaculated.  "  What  do  you  say,  Belle  ?  " 

"I  like  him,"  was  the  quiet  answer. 

"I  wonder  he  didn't  escort  you  home,  he  used  to  do 
it,"  my  sister  remarked  in  a  style  peculiar  to  herself, 
half  serious,  half  satirical. 

"  He  is  tired,  and  besides  he  has  to  pack  his  trunk, 
he  is  going  to  New  York  to-morrow,"  Miss  Ferris  ex- 
plained in  a  low  tone. 

"New  York  ! "  my  sister  exclaimed;  "  why,  he  was 
so  anxious  about  that  picnic,  that  he  couldn't  talk  of 
any  thing  else  last  night." 

"  I  know  that,  but  he  says  that  it  has  lost  all  its  at- 
traction for  him  since  I  am  not  going,  and  so  the  sooner 
he  begins  business  the  better  for  himself." 


118  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

"  Dear  me,  I  am  sorry ;  but  indeed,  Belle,  it  would 
never  do  for  us  to  give  our  consent  to  your  going ;  the 
risk  is  too  great,  isn't  it,  John  ?  " 

"  Decidedly  so ! "  I  answered. 

"  What  a  beauty  Miss  Pauline  is !  "  remarked  Mrs. 
Masters ;  "  I  never  saw  such  a  perfect  brunette.  Joseph, 
we  must  invite  her  down  to  the  city  this  winter,  and 
she  will  grow  accustomed  to  us  and  our  ways.  Then, 
next  winter  when  we  have  our  pet  home,  perhaps  she 
will  be  willing  to  stay  some  time  with  us.  Our  house 
would  be  very  lonely  after  her  own." 

"  Not  if  we  had  the  doctor  on  with  us,"  Mr.  Masters 
replied,  with  an  arch  glance  at  me.  "  I  think  she  took 
quite  a  fancy  to  you,  and  possibly  you  may  return  the 
compliment ;  certainly  neither  of  you  paid  much  atten- 
tion to  any  one  else  in  the  room." 

"  I  don't  wonder  at  any  one  admiring  her ;  she  might 
turn  an  older  and  wiser  head  than  even  Doctor  Wil- 
mer's,"  Mrs.  Masters  went  on. 

Between  admiring  Miss  Pauline,  and  arranging  a 
fishing  expedition  for  the  next  day,  we  at  last  reached 
the  house. 

The  lamp  in  the  sitting-room  was  turned  quite  low, 
and,  before  my  sister  could  reach  it  to  raise  it,  Miss 
Ferris  had  said  good-night  and  was  leaving  the  room. 

"  Oh !  Belle,  don't  go  yet ;  get  some  cake  for  us. 
Why !  you  have  been  crying,"  exclaimed  my  sister,  as 
the  light  suddenly  flashed  on  Miss  Ferris'  face. 

"  Why  !   little  one,  you  surely  would  not  cry  about 


IN  WHICH   I  MEET   A   RIVAL.  119 

a  picnic  party,"  Mr.  Masters  said,  putting  his  arm  round 
her  waist.  "  Only  wait  till  you  are  twenty,  and  you 
shall  have  picnics  "by  the  dozen,  and  Mr.  Claude  at  every 
one  of  them." 

"I  was  not  crying  about  the  picnic,"  Miss  Ferris 
said  in  a  low  tone,  at  the  same  time  hiding  her  face  on 
Mr.  Masters'  shoulder. 

He  kissed  her  gently.  "  Well,  well,  pet,  whatever  the 
trouble  is,  better  go  and  sleep  now,  and  forget  it  all  until 
morning ;  perhaps  it  won't  seem  so  terrible  then." 

He  let  her  go,  watching  her  out  of  the  room  and  up 
the  stairs,  walking  in  a  slow  manner,  not  at  all  natural. 

"  It  can't  be  possible  that  Mr.  Claude  has  stolen  our 
pet's  heart,"  Mr.  Masters  said,  closing  the  door  and  ad- 
dressing us  all  at  once,  with  a  puzzled  expression  in 
his  face. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  at  all  surprising,"  answered  Mrs. 
Masters.  "  He  is  so  handsome,  and  you  all  must  have 
noticed  the  attention  he  paid  her  this  evening.  A  stran- 
ger would  have  said  at  once  that  they  were  engaged." 

"Dear  me,  dear  me!"  exclaimed  my  sister,  looking 
horrified  ;  "  how  silly  I  have  been ! " 

"  Not  at  all,  my  dear  Miss  "Wilmer,  not  at  all.  The 
young  man  lacks  nothing  but  money,  and  if  he  has 
any  talent  he  won't  be  long  without  it.  In  this  country 
that  is  no  objection,  and  besides,  she  has  plenty.  We 
Lave  no  right  to  quarrel  with  what  appears  unavoidable. 
There  is  nothing  to  be  said  against  the  young  man  or  his 
family.  The  only  thing  I  wish  is,  that  no  engagement 


120  DR.  WELMEK'S  LOVE. 

be  entered  into  until  after  she  conies  of  age.  If  possible, 
Miss  Wilmer,  try  and  make  her  agree  to  that  arrange- 
ment. They  are  both  young  enough  to  wait  a  few 
months,  although  Sallie  and  I  had  our  minds  made  up 
before  she  was  eighteen." 

"Yes,  Joseph,"  Mrs.  Masters  answered,  pressing  his 
hand  in  hers,  "  and  I  don't  think  we  ever  regretted  it." 

"  And  we  hadn't  ten  thousand  a  year  ready  to  step 
into,  had  we,  little  woman?  Well,  if  we  only  live  to 
see  Arthur  Ferris'  child  happy,  we  may  die  contented. 
There  is  one  thing  certain :  this  young  man  may  suspect 
that  she  is  rich,  but  he  cannot  be  sure  of  it,  and,  from 
what  I  have  seen  of  him,  I  think  he  is  disinterested  in 
his  love." 

"  Belle  is  quite  worthy  of  being  loved  for  herself 
alone,"  said  my  sister,  "but  at  the  same  time,  the 
Lecounts  are  shrewd  enough,  when  they  think  of  all 
the  different  little  things  they  have  heard  and  seen,  to 
suspect  that  Belle  is  either  rich  in  her  own  right,  or  is 
considered  your  heiress.  Her  dress,  and  the  luxuries  of 
all  kinds  that  you  have  surrounded  her  with,  would  jus- 
tify the  conclusion.  However,  she  is  her  own  mistress 
in  the  affair;  no  one  here  will  prejudice  her  either  in  his 
favor  or  against  him.  Of  course,  he  will  have  a  strong 
friend  in  his  sister  Pauline,  and  if  you  think  it  best,  we 
might  by  degrees  break  off  the  intimacy." 

"Not  at  all,"  was  Mr.  Masters'  answer.  "Let  the 
girl's  own  heart  decide  the  matter.  Of  course  she  has 
as  yet  seen  nothing  of  the  world ;  she  has  had  no  oppor- 


m  WHICH   I   MEET   A   EIVAL.  121 

tunity  of  comparing  this  Mr.  Lecount  with  other  young 
men  equally  well  educated  and  fascinating ;  but  the 
trouble  is  this :  once  in  her  own  house,  surrounded  by 
new  friends  and  old  ones,  she  will  be  a  mark  for  every 
brainless  young  fop,  in  search  of  a  rich  wife,  that  she 
may  meet.  New  York  abounds  with  them  at  present — 
gay,  thoughtless  fellows,  brought  up  with  expensive 
tastes  and  extravagant  habits  by  their  silly  parents, 
without  any  legitimate  business,  and  afraid  of  soiling 
their  white  hands  with  hard  work.  Why,  when  they  do 
succeed  in  obtaining  a  position  in  a  bank  or  a  mercan- 
tile house,  the  salary  don't  suffice  to  support  them.  '  A 
rich  wife '  is  the  watch-word  at  present.  When  I  was 
young,  a  man  felt  proud  when  he  knew  that  he  could 
support  another  and  himself  comfortably.  A  wife  then 
was  a  precious  prize,  to  be  worked  for  and  won  by  the 
use  of  the  talents  and  energy  that  a  man  possessed  in 
himself.  If  his  home  were  only  two  rooms,  they  were 
his,  and  she  was  mistress  of  them.  Now,  all  that  is 
changed.  Our  young  men  are  quite  willing  to  marry 
before  they  can  honestly  support  themselves,  and  '  live 
home,'  as  they  term  it,  with  their  wife's  father  and 
mother.  And  some  of  them  think  it  quite  a  condescen- 
sion on  their  part  to  accept  a  comfortable  home,  in  ex- 
change for  the  trifling  attentions  they  bestow  on  their 
wives,  when  it  suits  them  to  be  kind  and  thoughtful. 
I  don't  like  to  think  of  giving  Belle  to  one  of  these  aris- 
tocratic idlers."  Mr.  Masters  had  grown  quite  irate  in 
his  anticipations  of  Miss  Ferris'  suitors,  and  walked  up 
6 


122  DE.  WILMEK'S  XOVE. 

and  down  the  room  with  heavy  steps,  whilst  delivering 
his  opinion  of  the  young  men  with  whom  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  meeting. 

"  Don't  borrow  trouble,  Joseph,"  remarked  his  wife. 
"  Mr.  Lecount,  at  least,  cannot  be  quite  so  objectionable 
as  the  young  men  you  are  speaking  of,  and  Belle  might 
go  farther  and  fare  worse." 

"  Belle  has  a  great  development  of  firmness,"  said 
my  sister,  smiling ;  "  she  will  not  marry  Claude  Lecount 
unless  she  likes  him,  and  up  to  the  present  time  I  don't 
think  such  an  idea  has  ever  come  into  her  head.  Per- 
haps we  had  better  wait  a  little  before  we  trouble  our 
minds  about  Belle's  husband.  She  is  as  yet  a  mere 
child,  and  likely  to  continue  so  .for  some  time  to  come." 

"  I  hope  you  may  be  right,"  said  Mr.  Masters, 
shaking  his  head  prophetically,  "but  her  manner  to- 
night was  not  very  childish." 

"  Ah,  well,  Joseph,"  said  Mrs.  Masters,-  as  she  lit 
her  lamp,  and  was  leaving  the  room,  "  these  things  are 
beyond  us ;  we  must  wait  and  be  patient." 

The  next  morning,  long  before  Miss  Ferris  was  ac- 
customed to  make  her  appearance,  Mr.  Masters  and  I 
had  started  on  our  fishing  excursion.  It  was  deserving 
of  the  title,  for  we  fished  all  day  and  caught  nothing 
but  sun-burned  necks  and  hands.  So  we  set  out  for 
home,  voting  the  expedition  a  complete  failure.  Miss 
Ferris  was  just  taking  leave  of  her  friend  Miss  Pauline, 
as  we  passed  the  Lecounts'  gate.  We  stopped  and  had 
a  merry  greeting  from  them,  and  some  very  dangerous 


IN   WHICH   I   MEET   A   BIVAL.  123 

glances  from  the  oriental  eyes,  which,  though  aimed  at 
me,  struck  Mr.  Masters.  That  good-natured  gentleman 
immediately  commenced  weaving  in  his  brain  a  wonder- 
ful romance,  in  which  I  was  to  be  the  hero  and  Miss 
Pauline  the  heroine.  That  young  lady  was  arranging 
when  she  would  come  and  spend  a  day  with  us,  and  as 
we  turned  away  I  offered  Miss  Ferris  my  arm.  But 
she  had  taken  Mr.  Masters'  hastily,  and  was  making 
some  absurd  remarks  to  him  on  the  amount  of  fish  he 
had  caught.  Her  manner  was  curious,  a  forced  gayety 
and  petulance,  under  which  I  detected  a  nervousness 
and  a  tendency  to  the  old  excitability.  I  lingered  be- 
hind them  pondering  over  the  change  in  Miss  Ferris' 
manner  toward  me.  Even  my  presence  made  her  act 
unnaturally  with  her  guardian.  The  light  laugh,  and 
the  tones  of  her  voice  that  reached  me,  might  deceive 
another,  particularly  one  so  unsuspicious  as  honest  Mr. 
Masters.  They  did  not  mislead  me.  My  innocent,  im- 
pulsive darling  was  trying  to  act  a  part,  trying  to 
appear  happy,  when,  in  truth,  she  was  troubled  and 
miserable.  I  determined  to  find  out  from  her  what  it 
was  that  caused  her  uneasiness,  feeling  sure  that  she 
would  tell  -me,  seeing  that  a  few  days  before  she  had 
opened  her  heart  to  me  in  the  old  confidential  way.  To 
my  great  surprise  she  avoided  me  during  the  remainder 
of  the  evening,  refusing  to  walk  with  me;  and  having 
found  some  intricate  needle-work,  she  sat  down  near 
Mrs.  Masters,  and  became  so  interested  in  it  as  to  ap- 
pear indifferent  to  the  general  conversation  around  her. 


124  DK.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

Once,  having  dropped  a  ball  of  wool,  I  picked  it  up 
and  handed  it  to  her.  She  colored  as  she  met  my  eyes 
fixed  on  her  face,  but  made  no  remark,  and  more 
puzzled  than  ever  I  resumed  my  conversation  with  Mr. 
Masters. 

The  possibility  of  the  Barrows  arriving  troubled 
Mr.  Masters  exceedingly,  and  he  determined  to  remain 
and  mount  guard  over  Miss  Ferris  during  .their  stay  in 
the  neighborhood. 

"Yes,"  said  my  sister,  "you  can  take  Belle  off 
early  in  the  mornings  and  explore  the  country,  and 
John  and  mother  may  entertain  them  if  Pauline  brings 
them  here.  Perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  call  and  in- 
vite them  to  the  house  so  as  to  ward  off  suspicion, 
Belle's  absence  will  then  appear  accidental." 

"  The  task  of  entertaining  them  will  foil  on  you," 
I  answered,  "  for  I  shall  leave  for  home  to-morrow." 

In  the  general  surprise  that  followed  my  announce- 
ment, and  amid  exclamations  of  dismay  and  disgust  at 
my  obstinacy,  Miss  Ferris  escaped  from  the  room. 

"  Poor  Belle,"  said  my  mother,  after  I  had  over- 
come their  united  arguments,  and  decided  upon  leaving 
by  the  early  train  on  the  following  morning — "poor 
Belle,  she  has  enjoyed  very  little  of  your  society,  after 
all.  The  poor  child  didn't  know  what  to  say  to  you, 
and  so  she  left  the  room  without  a  word." 

"  John,  you  are  such  an  obstinate  creature,"  went 
on  my  sister,  "  what  do  your  patients  think  of  you  ?  " 

"They  think  as  I  do,  that,  being  strong,  and  having 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET  A  EIVAL.  125 

seen  you  all  well  and  happy,  I  ought  to  be  in  Buffalo 
attending  to  them  and  their  whims." 

"  What  could  have  come  to  Belle  this  evening  ? 
Her  work  is  ruined.  What  could  the  child  have  been 
thinking  of?"  exclaimed  my  sister,  lifting  up  Miss 
Ferris's  needle-work,  and  holding  it  for  Mrs.  Masters 
to  inspect. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Claude  Lecount,  without  a  doubt,"  replied 
Mr.  Masters,  shaking  his  head ;  "  the  child  is  in  love 
as  sure  as  I  am  alive,"  and  the  old  gentleman  went 
up-stairs,  humming  some  lines  from  "Love's  Young 
Dream." 

I  opened  the  window  and  strolled  up  and  down  the 
piazza  in  the  cool  night  air,  trying  to  realize  my  posi- 
tion and  reason  myself  into  the  belief  that  I  was  con- 
tented with  it.  My  visit  home  had  not  helped  me  to 
bear  my  disappointment  any  better.  It  had  only  served 
to  make  my  love  for  Miss  Ferris  more  intense,  and  to 
increase  my  jealousy  and  doubts  of  her  feeling  for  me. 
In  trying  to  account  for  the  change  in  her  manner  tow- 
ard me,  I  never  thought  of  how  much  my  own  con- 
duct had  to  do  with  it.  I  forgot  that  I  had  become 
cold  and  distant,  and  I  blamed  her  for  the  loss  of  the 
old  confidence  and  warm  affection  that  had  existed 
between  us.  I  attributed  her  reserve  and  avoidance  of 
me  to  the  new  feeling  for  Claude  Lecount,  which  I  be- 
lieved was  absorbing  all  her  thoughts.  Jealousy  had 
so  taken  possession  of  me  that  I  seized  upon  every  trifle, 
a  glance  or  a  word  that  had  passed  between  them,  as 


126  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

proofs  of  her  love  for  him,  and  attached  no  importance 
to  her  assertions  to  the  contrary,  made  on  the  tirst  day 
of  my  visit.  I  argued  that  she  was  not  conscious  of  her 
own  sentiments  for  him  then,  but  that  his  departure  and 
absence  had  caused  her  to  realize  them,  and  that  so 
suddenly,  as  to  render  her  unable  to  conceal  from  us 
their  effect  upon  her.  In  my  blind  jealousy  I  made  up 
my  mind  to  leave  her  with  our  estrangement  unex- 
plained, forgetting  that  by  so  doing  I  was  playing  into 
Miss  Pauline's  hands,  and  leaving  her  in  possession  of 
the  whole  field.  Deprived  of  my  advice,  Miss  Ferris 
would  naturally  turn  to  her  for  consolation ;  and  while 
still  hurt  with  me,  it  would  be  an  easy  task  for  Miss 
Pauline  to  instil  into  the  innocent  mind  a  doubt  of  me 
and  my  sincerity.  Once  doubted,  could  not  all  my 
words  and  acts  be  misconstrued  ?  I  never  gave  these 
things  a  thought,  I  only  hugged  to  my  heart  my  own 
trouble,  and  determined  tto  return  to  my  work,  call 
pride  and  indifference  to  my  aid,  and  drown  all  recol- 
lection of  my  own  romance  in  the  busy  wear  and  tear 
of  every-day  life. 

I  was  about  to  enter  the  house,  when  a  low  sob 
struck  on  my  ears,  and,  turning  in  the  direction  from 
which  it  came,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  white  dress  flut- 
tering in  the  air.  There  was  an  old  rustic  bench  in 
that  part  of  the  garden,  and  hurrying  toward  it  I  found 
Miss  Ferris  seated  on  it.  She  was  crying  passionately; 
her  face  hidden  against  her  hands,  which  were  clasped 
round  the  twisted  branch  that  formed  the  side  of  the 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET  A  KIVAL.  127 

bench.  My  first  impulse  was  to  put  my  arms  around 
her  and  pet  her,  as  I  would  a  spoiled  child  of  six  years, 
but  I  remembered  Mr.  Claude  Lecount,  and  realized 
that  she  was  no  longer  a  child,  but  a  woman  who  pos- 
sessed a  more  than  ordinary  depth  of  feeling  and  sensi- 
tiveness. 

She  started  as  I  spoke  to  her,  and,  raising  her  head, 
showed  me  a  pale  face,  with  sad,  tearful  eyes,  and 
quivering  lips.  She  ceased  sobbing  at  once,  but  trem- 
bled visibly,  when  I  drew  her  arm  through  mine  and 
led  her  toward  the  house,  telling  her  the  danger  she 
ran  of  contracting  a  heavy  cold.  I  did  not  dare  to 
question  her  as  to  the  caus«  of  her  grief,  feeling  that  I 
had  no  right  to  seek  her  confidence  in  a  matter  where 
her  love  was  concerned,  unless  she  oifered  it  voluntarily. 
I  told  her  to  confide  in  Mr.  Masters,  and  tell  him  what 
troubled  her,  assuring  her  that  he  thought  only  of  her 
happiness,  and  would  do  every  thing  in  his  power  to 
secure  it.  She  appeared  to  listen  to  my  advice,  but 
made  no  remark  that  could  give  me  an  idea  of  the  cur- 
rent of  her  thoughts.  She  did  not  so  much  as  allude  to 
my  intended  departure,  but  I  could  see  in  the  moonlight 
that  her  face  wore  an  expression  such  as  I  had  never 
before  seen  on  it.  Her  lips  were  compressed,  and  the 
sad  look  in  her  eyes  had  given  place  to  a  quiet,  cold 
expression,  denoting  self-control  and  calculation.  Her 
whole  manner  reminded  me  of  what  she  had  been  fast 
growing  into  before  I  met  her  at  Niagara,  and  shook 
her,  by  my  interest  in  her  and  the  force  of  a  strong  will, 


128  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

out  of  the  dull  apathetic  despair  that  was  stealing  over 
her  so  sadly. 

Hers  was  no  common  nature.  Joined  to  ardent 
affections  and  quick  impulsiveness,  she  possessed  a 
quiet,  cautious,  unsuspected  firmness,  which,  if  exerted, 
could  entirely  control  the  passions  Avhich  appeared  on 
the  surface,  and  seemed  to  denote  her  true  disposition. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  gain  her  confidence,  and  afraid 
to  demand  an  explanation  of  her  coldness,  lest  I  should 
forget  myself  and  let  her  see  my  own  heart,  I  took 
leave  of  her  on  reaching  the  house,  where  we  had  found 
my  sister,  lamp  in  hand,  about  making  a  search  for  us. 
For  a  moment,  while  her  hand  lay  in  mine,  she  gave  me 
a  glance,  bright  and  searching,  as  if  she  felt  inclined  to 
tell  me  something,  but  either  my  face  or  her  own 
thoughts  made  her  recall  the  desire,  and,  having  wished 
me  a  safe  trip,  she  left  us  standing  iri  the  hall  together. 
I  was  disappointed,  and  my  sister  was  astonished. 

"  How  strange  Belle  looks,  and  how  very  unnatu- 
rally she  acts !  John,  dear,  do  you  think  she  is  quite 
well  ?  don't  you  feel  anxious  about  her  ?  Where  did 
•  you  find  her  ?  I  went  in  to  see  if  she  Was  asleep,  and, 
when  I  missed  her,  you  can't  tell  what  a  feeling  of 
dread  came  over  me.  The  idea  of  her  going  out  in  the 
damp  air  in  her  thin  dress !  I  declare,  for  the  last  three 
days  she  has  been  a  perfect  enigma  to  me.  Can  you 
understand  her  ?  " 

"  Not  very  well,  unless,  as  Mr.  Masters  says,  she  is 
in  love,  and  has  suddenly  become  a  wise  little  woman, 


DT  WHICH   I  MEET  A  EFVAL.  129 

instead  of  a  bright,  spoiled  child.  Another  thing;  the 
only  childhood  she  knew  was  over  before  she  was  six 
years  old.  From  that  time  until  she  came  here,  she 
was  denied  all  childish  pleasures,  and  forced  to  think 
and  reason  far  beyond  her  strength.  I  suppose  the  old 
habit  of  thinking  and  fretting  comes  easy  to  her,  now 
that  Mr.  Claude's  attentions  have  given  her  subject  for 
meditation." 

"  I  think  you  take  it  too  quietly,  John,"  replied  my 
sister,  looking  still  more  anxious.  "  If  she  don't  im- 
prove, I  shall  send  for  you,  and  I  wish  you  would  put 
off  your  return  home,  and  stay  with  us  a  few  days 
longer.  I  am  very  uneasy  about  her." 

"  You  must  see,"  I  said,  "  that  my  presence  has  no 
good  effect  upon  her.  I  think,  on  the  contrary,  that  it 
tends  to  Increase  her  trouble." 

"  And  yet,  John,  at  one  time  you  were  every  thing 
to  her." 

It  was  well  that  my  sister  was  too  much  engaged 
with  the  lamp  at  that  moment  to  look  at  me.  My  face 
might  have  told  her  a  secret.  I  turned  away,  that  she 
should  not  observe  the  effect  of  her  words,  and  she  mis- 
took the  movement  for  one  of  impatience. 

"  Well,  well,  John,  since  you  are  so  anxious  to  be 
back  at  your  work,  I  shall  not  try  to  keep  you  from  it ; 
only  remember,"  and  here  my  sister  put  her  arms  round 
my  neck  and  looked  into  my  eyes,  "  that  mother  grows 
older  every  day,  and  longs  to  have  you  near  her.  I 
6* 


130  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

wish  you  would  think  seriously  of  trying  to  establish 
yourself  here,  or  else,  as  you  are  determined  not  to 
marry,  why  not  save  some  money,  and  retire  from  your 
profession  ?  you  could  find  enough  here  to  amuse  you, 
without  attending  to  business." 

"  You  think  so,"  I  answered  ;  "  but  I  know  better. 
I  have  enough  now  to  satisfy  my  own  tastes  and  wants, 
but  I  should  be  miserable  without  my  every-day  work 
to  occupy  my  mind.  Besides,  I  love  my  profession,  and 
I  shall  never  give  it  up  until  I  feel  myself  unable  to 
practise  it  faithfully.  I  will,  however,  see  what  can  be 
done,  so  that  after  Miss  Ferris  comes  of  age  we  may  be 
together  again." 

"  Yes,  John,  we  have  no  one  but  mother ;  let  us 
study  only  her  comfort  while  she  is  spared  to  us." 

After  my  sister  had  kissed  me  good-night,  I  began 
to  think  of  all  she  had  said,  and  thought  very  seriously 
of  it,  too.  In  Buffalo  I  had  far  greater  chances  of  mak- 
ing a  name  and  reputation  than  in  a  small  village, 
where,  instead  of  many,  I  was  likely  to  have  only  one 
rival  to  compete  with.  Still,  a  doctor  can  find  subjects 
for  his  skill,  and  meet  with  new  and  strange  cases  in 
any  field  where  he  may  choose  to  employ  his  talents 
and  use  his  knowledge,  whether  it  be  among  the  nar- 
row, dirty  streets  of  a  crowded  city,  or  among  the  scat- 
tered houses  of  a  country  village.  Suffering  and  misery 
are  about  equally  distributed  in  both ;  and  where  pov- 
erty and  ignorance  may  exist  on  the  one  side,  pride  and 
meanness  will  balance  them  on  the  other.  The  "  bub- 


US'  WHICH   I  MEET   A   RIVAL.  131 

ble  reputation "  had  lost  its  principal  charms  for  me. 
To  enjoy  a  thing  that  we  earn,  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
word,  is  impossible,  unless  there  is  some  one  near  us 
who  can  appreciate,  not  only  the  labor  and  its  reward, 
but  also  the  laborer.  Hereafter,  I  might  work  for  the 
work's  sake,  but  not  for  the  added  respect  and  fame 
that  success  should  bring  me. 

I  ci<itermined  to  establish  myself  near  my  mother,  if 
not,  in  her  own  village,  as  soon  as  Miss  Ferris  should  be 
safe  in  New  York.  The  next  morning  that  young  lady 
did  not  come  down  to  our  early  breakfast,  so  I  left  the 
house  without  seeing  her.  I  had  been  home  but  a  few 
days  when  my  sister  wrote  to  me,  to  say  that  "  Belle 
ad  taken  a  heavy  cold  that  night  before  I  left,  and  had 
een  confined  to  her  room  ever  since."  The  next  news 
was,  that,  while  Miss  Ferris  was  still  sick,  the  picnic 
had  taken  place.  The  Barrows  had  arrived  in  good 
time,  and  the  whole  affair  had  been  most  enjoyable  and 
satisfactory.  Owing  to  the  care  Miss  Ferris  required, 
my  sister  had  remained  at  home,  and  had  not  met  any 
of  the  people  from  New  York.  Pauline,  however,  had 
been  with  Belle  every  day,  and  had  read  Claude's  let- 
ters aloud  for  her.  They  were  very  witty,  and  con- 
tained graphic  descriptions  of  all  that  passed  of  much 
moment  in  the  metropolis. 

Before  Mr.  Masters  went  home,  Belle  had  confided 
to  him  the  fact  that  Claude  had  asked  her  to  be  his 
wife,  and  she  had  told  him  that  she  had  never  thought 
of  such  a  thing.  Claude,  however,  pleaded  hard  to  be 


132  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

allowed  to  address  her,  and  wished  to  correspond  with 
her.  She  had  been  too  timid  to  promise  such  a  favor, 
without  her  guardian's  sanction,  and,  as  Mr.  Masters  did 
not  approve  of  it,  Claude  had  urged  it  no  further,  con- 
tenting himself  with  sending  her  long  messages  in  his 
sister's  letters.  Mr.  Masters'  opinion  and  my  sister's 
agreed.  Both  were  sure  that  Belle  was  in  love  with 
the  young  man,  but  had  not  realized  it  at  tb*>  time 
he  proposed,  which  explained  her  curious  answer.  I 
gathered  from  all  the  accounts  I  heard,  that  Miss  Ferris 
and  Miss  Pauline  were  more  .intimate  than  ever,  and 
that,  whenever  Mr.  Claude  paid  a  visit  home,  his  atten- 
tions to  the  former  were  exclusive.  My  sister  thought 
that  Miss  Ferris  was  pleased  and  flattered  by  all  this 
devotion,  but  felt  quite,  sure  that  Mr.  Claude  had  not 
risked  another  proposal.  She  would  tell  me  at  times  : , 
that  "Belle  appeared  to  be  more  timid  and  retiring 
every  time  she  met  Claude,"  and  in  the  next  letter  I 
would  read  a  long  account  of  a  sleighing-party,  for 
which  he  had  run  up  from  the  city,  and  at  which  Belle 
had  looked  prettier  and  enjoyed  herself  more  than  any 
one  else. 

Another  time  he  had  arrived  with  some  beautiful 
skates  of  an  entirely  new  design,  and  was  going  to 
teach  Belle  how  to  use  them.  In  spite  of  the  bitter 
pain  these  reports  caused  me,  I  read  them  over  and 
over  again,  trying  to  find  in  the  descriptions  of  Miss 
Ferris's  manner  something  on  which  to  build  fresh  hopes. 
I  was  unsuccessful.  My  sister  concluded  that  Belle's 


& 

l 

m 


IN   WHICH   I  MEET   A   RIVAL.  133 

love  for  Mr.  Claude  deepened  daily,  and  Mr.  Masters 
wrote  fine  reports  of  the  young  man's  character  and 
business  qualifications. 

So  time  rolled  by — days,  weeks,  and  months — until 
early  in  the  summer,  when  Mr.  Masters  received  the 
long-expected  announcement.  Mrs.  Ferris  and  Mr. 
Parker  had  been  married  at  the  chapel  of  the  Ameri- 
can embassy  in  Paris,  and  were  about  setting  out  for 
Switzerland,  where  they  proposed  remaining  for  some 
months.  This  intelligence  made  Mr.  Masters  feel  quite 
easy  in  his  mind,  and  I  heard  soon  after  that  my  sister 
and  Miss  Pauline  were  on  a  visit  at  his  house  for  a 
special  purpose.  In  view  of  the  fifth  of  September, 
now  drawing  near,  a  day  ardently  longed  for  by  the 
whole  band  of  conspirators  against  Mrs.  Parker,  Mr. 
Masters  was  refitting  his  house  to^suit  the  tastes  of 
the  young  people  whose  pleasure  lay  so  near  his 
heart. 

He  intended  giving  a  large  party  on  that  night,  to 
which  should  be  invited  every  friend  and  acquaintance 
of  the  late  Mr.  Ferris.  Miss  Pauline's  taste  was  most 
exquisite,  my  sister  informed  me,  and  Mrs.  Masters  was 
delighted  with  all  her  suggestions.  As  my  presence 
might  be  necessary  on  that  occasion,  I  made  my  ar- 
rangements accordingly,  although  anticipating  more 
pain  than  pleasure. 

I  had  been  for  some  time  negotiating  with  a  gentle- 
man who  wished  to  succeed  me  in  my  practice ;  and  my 
mother  already,  in  imagination,  saw  me  once  more  liv- 


134  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

ing  contentedly  in  my  old  home.  Every  one  in  our 
little  circle  had  a  great  joy  in  anticipation,  and  each  de- 
pended on  the  other  for  its  fulfilment.  Mr.  Masters  was 
turning  his  house  upside  down  for  Miss  Ferris,  and 
mother  was  employed  in  the  same  way  for  me.  Mean- 
while my  sister  and  Miss  Pauline  divided  their  time  be- 
tween both  houses.  Miss  Ferris  was  building  fairy  cas- 
tles in  the  air,  and  I  never  stopped  to  analyze  my  own 
feelings,  once  I  had  determined  to  sell  my  practice  and 
return  home.  My  own  air-castle  being  demolished,  I 
concluded  to  help  my  mother  in  realizing  hers,  by  taking 
possession  of  my  own  apartment  in  it. 

I  had  intended  starting  for  New  York  before  the 
first  of  September,  so  as  to  be  able  to  help  forward  Mr.   i 
Masters'  arrangements,  he  having  urged  me  to  be  in 
good  time.     However,  one  of  my  best  friends  was  taken  • 
dangerously  ill  the  veiyxlay  on  which  I  had  intended  to 
leave  home,  and  I  determined  to  remain  with  him  until 
there  were  some  signs  of  improvement  in  his  condition. 
At  last  I  felt  that  I  could  leave  him  with  safety,  and  I 
started. 

I  arrived  at  Mr.  Masters'  door,  valise  in  hand,  on  the 
party  night,  about  half  an  hour  before  the  guests  were 
expected  to  assemble.  The  ladies  were  in  their  rooms, 
the  servant  informed  me,  and  so  I  went  up  to  the  one 
prepared  for  me  without  seeing  any  of  them,  although 
I  anxiously  wished  for  a  few  moments'  conversation 
with  my  sister.  The  parlors  were  quite  full  when  I  de- 
scended, and  I  hastened  to  pay  my  respects  to  the 


IN  WHICH  I  MEET  A  RIVAL.  135 

hostess,  who  stood  at  the  end  of  them  receiving  her 
guests.  Many  of  them  were  entire  strangers  to  her, 
and  Mr.  Masters  was  introducing  Mrs.  Barrow  when  I 
joined  them. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

AN     UNEXPECTED     GUEST. 

HAVING  apologized  for  my  late  appearance,  I  turned 
away  in  search  of  some  one  that  I  knew.  The  rooms 
were  certainly  most  beautiful,  and  did  full  credit  to 
Miss  Pauline's  taste  ;  although  I  could  detect  traces  of 
Miss  Ferns  in  the  decorations.  Her  favorite  colors, 
white  and  violet,  were  visible  wherever  they  could  be 
introduced,  and  were  particularly  noticeable  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  flowers.  White  rosebuds,  camelias, 
and  tube-roses,  contrasted  with  heliotropes  and  violets, 
were  scattered  in  profusion  throughout  the  rooms. 
Every  ornament  that  could  be  made  available  con- 
tained natural  flowers,  whose  beauty  and  mingled  per- 
fumes added  to  the  influence  of  the  scene.  From  va- 
rious opinions  that  reached  me  as, I  made  my  way 
through  the  little  groups,  I  gathered  that  the  aifair  was 
considered  rather  strange  and  mysterious.  It  was  too 
early  in  the  season,  some  thought ;  others  wondered  at 
the  costliness  and  display  so  opposite  to  the  usual  taste 
of  Mrs.  Masters.  Many  walked  about  as  though  per- 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  137 

plexed  at  having  received  invitations ;  and  those  I  con- 
cluded at  once  were  Mrs.  Parker's  own  friends.  At  last 
I  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  figure  which  seemed  familiar ; 
but,  on  having  a  full  view  of  it,  I  felt  that  I  was  mis- 
taken. Surely  my  staid  sister,  with  smooth  hair  and 
high  dress,  never  could  have  so  changed  her  identity. 
Yet  in  spite  of  the  low-necked  evening  toilet  of  ruby- 
colored  silk,  covered  with  lace  ornaments,  and  the  hair 
arranged  in  the  latest  style,  all  puffs  and  coils,  it  was 
my  sister ;  for  she  turned  at  that  moment  and  came  to 
welcome  me,  her  face  lit  up  with  pleasure,  I  always 
had  an  idea,  amounting  to  a  belief,  that  my  sister's  fea- 
tures and  figure  were  very  handsome ;  but  that  night  I 
felt  that  she  was  indeed  a  beautiful  woman  in  spite  of 
her  forty  years.  Time  had  seemingly  forgotten  her,  or 
else  it  had  but  little  effect  on  one  who  led  such  a  quiet, 
unselfish  life. 

My  mother  next  claimed  my  attention,  also  looking 
very  happy ;  and  I  laughingly  read  her  a  lecture  on  her 
extravagance,  for  she,  who  had  talked  about  economy 
for  years,  was  fairly  gorgeous  in  black  moire,  with  point 
lace  at  her  neck  and  wrists.  For  the  first  time  in  my 
life  I  beheld  my  mother  dressed  as  I  had  often  imagined 
her  in  my  boyish  visions.  It  had  been  my  great  am- 
bition to  give  her  such  luxuries,  but  she  had  ever  resist- 
ed my  expressed  wishes,  saying  that  it  would  be  wrong 
to  waste  on  such  unnecessary  things  the  money  I  earned 
so  hard.  Now,  when  I  declared  that  I  would  be  obliged 
to  reconsider  my  plan  of  selling  out  my  lucrative  prac- 


138  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

tice,  she  only  said,  "  Think  of  the  occasion  !  surely  that 
will  warrant  the  expense." 

I  must  say  that  I  felt  very  proud  of  ray  little  mother; 
when,  after  some  coaxing,  she  condescended  to  take  a 
turn  round  the  room,  leaning  on  my  arm.  The  violet 
ribbons  trimming  her  lace  cap  gave  a  brightness  to  her 
soft  eyes,  and  I  found  myself  admiring  the  little  hand 
shaded  with  lace  that  lay  on  my  arm.  My  sister  had 
volunteered  no  remarks  about  Miss  Ferris,  and  I  had 
felt  myself  unequal  to  asking  any  questions.  I  deter- 
mined to  await  events  patiently ;  and  while  still  prac- 
tising that  virtue,  Miss  Pauline  Lecount  entered  the 
room,  hanging  on  her  brother's  arm.  Her  appearance, 
which  was  dazzling,  caused  a  general  buzz  of  admira- 
tion, which  followed  her  as  she  swept  through  the  rooms 
toward  a  group  which  I  had  not  before  noticed,  com- 
posed principally  of  her  own  family. 

Her  dress  of  white  tulle,  soft  and  graceful,  was  in- 
terwoven with  silver,  and  trimmed,  with  wreaths  of 
dark-red  roses.  They  caught  up  the  overskirt,  peeped 
from  the  folds  qf  the  corsage  twined  over  the  graceful 
neck  and  rounded  arms,  and  shone  in  the  black  braids 
of  her  beautiful  hair.  Certainly  Miss  Pauline's  taste 
was  beyond  question. 

The  other  members  of  her  family  were  attracting 
much  attention,  owing  to  their  decided  beauty.  I 
recognized  her  mother,  Miss  Marie,  and  the  two 
young  gentlemen  to  whom  I  had  been  introduced.  As 
I  was  about  going  over  to  renew  my  acquaintance  with 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  139 

them,  there  was  a  slight  confusion  in  the  room,  and  Mr. 
Masters  called  my  name.  Drawing  me  to  his  side,  and 
demanding  attention  by  a  slight  gesture,  he  asked  to 
explain  the  meaning  of  the  party  so  strangely  given. 
There  was  a  general  pressing  toward  him,  and  then  the 
guests  became  silent.  His  impressive  manner  affected 
all  in  the  room. 

He  commenced,  and  told  in  a  few  touching  words 
the  story  of  Miss  Ferris,  and  the  wrongs  she  had  suf- 
fered. Laying  his  hand  on  my  shoulder,  he  presented 
me  as  his  witness  to  the  truth  of  all  he  had  said.  He 
appealed  to  the  old  friends  of  Mr.  Ferris,  and  particu- 
larly to  those  who  had  known  his  first  wife,  to  stand 
by  the  cause  of  their  orphan  child.  His  voice  shook  at 
times  with  emotion  when  referring  to  the  sufferings 
heaped  on  the  innocent  girl ;  and  then  amid  the  general 
hush,  caused  by  astonishment  and  doubt  that  followed 
his  words,  he  left  the  room.  A  few  moments  passed  ; 
people  began  to  find  words  in  which  to  express  their 
surprise.  Several  declared  that  they  would  recognize 
the  child  anywhere ;  others  looked  at  me  suspiciously, 
and  spoke  of  Mrs.  Ferris's  devotion  to  her  step-child. 
A  general  interchange  of  opinions  was  going  on  when 
Mr.  Masters  reappeared  with  Miss  Ferris  leaning  on  his 
arm.  Certainly  a  lovelier  vision  had  never  before  met 
their  glances.  She  was  dressed  in  white  tulle,  that 
floated  around  her  slight,  elegant  figure  like  a  cloud. 
Her  beautiful  hair  lay  in  long,  soft  curls  on  her  neck  ; 
and  the  excitement  of  the  affair  had  brought  a  delicate 


14:0  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

color,  like -the  pink  of  a  sea-shell,  into  her  cheeks.  For 
a  moment  there  was  complete  silence,  such  as  had  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Masters'  announcement  of  her  existence. 
Then  a  cry  of  "  Belle,  little  Belle  !  don't  you  remember 
me  ?  "  broke  the  spell.  The  speaker,  a  tall,  fine-looking 
woman,  who  had  stood  near  me,  rushed  forward  and 
caught  Miss  Ferris  in  her  arms,  kissing  her  fondly. 

"  You  are  Mrs.  Lester,  papa's  cousin,"  was  the  an- 
swer, and  it  carried  conviction  to  many  hearts. 

Mrs.  Barrow,  strange  to  say,  was  a  strong  witness. 

"  Now  that  I  see  her  eyes,  I  am  quite  sure  that  it 
is  she.  I  saw  her  the  day  before  she  was  put  into  that 
terrible  asylum." 

"  Oh  yes,  mamma,  I  remember  her  perfectly,"  ex- 
claimed Miss  Barrow. 

It  was  some  time  before  I  had  a  chance  to  speak  to 
the  heroine  of  the  evening.  She  was  passed  from  one 
to  another,  to  be  kissed  and  petted  like  a  valuable  curi- 
osity. Others  seized  upon  me  and  plied  their  ques- 
tions, which,  I  am  happy  to  say,  they  were  delicate  and 
thoughtful  enough  not  to  press  on  Miss  Ferris. 

I  received  more  invitations  to  dinner  during  that 
evening  than  I  ever  had  in  all  the  years  of  my  life  put 
together.  The  Lecounts  were  certainly  the  most  amazed 
people  I  had  ever  seen.  My  mother  and  sister  found 
themselves  surrounded  by  eager  questioners,  and  gave 
their  experience  of  Miss  Ferris  over  and  over  again  to 
the  delighted  listeners.  Mr.  Masters  went  about  rub- 
bing his  face,  which  was  rosy  with  delight,  and  endured 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  141 

any  number  of  congratulations  and  endless  handshaking. 
For  that  night  he  was  a  greater  diplomatist  than  even 
Metternich. 

Mr.  Claude  Lecount  had  at  last  succeeded  in  draw- 
ing Miss  Ferris's  arm  through  his,  and  was  walking  in 
triumph  with  her  around  the  rooms.  His  handsome 
head  was  bent  down,  while  he  poured  his  delicate  com- 
pliments into  her  ears.  Her  manner  was  curious,  shy, 
and  retiring,  as  if  only  half  liking  this  exclusive  atten- 
tion. Her  eyes  were  fastened  on  her  fan,  which  she 
opened  and  shut  nervously,  and  the  bright  color  was 
mantling  in  the  transparent  cheeks.  As  I  turned  from 
observing  her,  to  answer  a  question  of  Mrs.  Lester's,  I 
caught  Miss  Pauline's  eyes  fixed  intently  on  my  face. 
"We  bowed  rather  confusedly,  each  so  well  understand- 
ing the  other.  I  felt  that  the  dark-eyed  beauty  was  a 
powerful  antagonist. 

Mr.  Masters  coming  toward  me,  pointed  to  the  mu- 
sicians, who  had  taken  their  places  behind  a  screen 
formed  of  large  tropical  plants,  placed  in  ornamental 
boxes,  and  invited  me  to  commence  the  dance  with  Miss 
Ferris.  I  found  her  conversing  with  Mr.  Claude  in  a 
little  room  which  had  been  turned  into  a  conservatory 
for  the  evening,  She  started  when  she  heard  my  voice, 
and  turned  as  if  to  welcome  me  in  the  old,  impulsive 
manner.  The  next  minute  she  had  controlled  the  feel- 
ing, and  blushing  deeply,  without  raising  her  eyes  to 
mine,  she  held  out  her  hand,  stammering  some  words  to 
the  effect  that  she  was  glad  to  sec  me,  and  was  sorry 


142  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

for  my  detention.  Then  she  glanced  toward  her  com- 
panion, and  intimated  that  we  had  met  before.  We 
bowed  distantly,  and  I  offered  her  my  arm  and  made 
my  request. 

She  blushed  painfully,  it  seemed  to  me,  and,  very 
much  embarrassed,  looked  at  Mr.  Claude. 

"  Miss  Ferris  is  engaged  to  me  for  this,  Doctor  Wil- 
mer,"  said  that  gentleman,  in  a  tone  of  ill-concealed  tri- 
umph. 

"  The  next  one,  then — I  think  it  is  a  polka,"  I  went 
on,  looking  at  Miss  Ferris. 

She  appeared  more  and  more  confused. 

"  Miss  Ferris  has  been  kind  enough  to  promise  me 
that  one,  and  the  next,  also,"  said  Mr.  Claude,  with 
sparkling  eyes.  . 

"  Is  your  card  entirely  filled  ?  "  I  asked. 

She  detached  it  from  the  chain  of  her  fan,  and  put  it 
in  my  hand,  with  fingers  that  trembled  visibly,  in  spite 
of  her  newly-acquired  self-control. 

I  ran  my  eyes  over  the  list  of  dances.  Mr.  Claude's 
name  was  down  for  the  first  three,  and  then  appeared 
at  intervals  on  the  card;  his  brother  Louis  had  also 
secured  several.  I  felt,  if  any  thing,  more  hurt  at  the 
want  of  good  taste  exhibited  in  Mr.  Claude's  conduct, 
than  at  my  own  disappointment.  I  wrote  my  name 
down  for  two  dances,  and  then  went  in  search  of  an- 
other partner.  If  I  suffered,  they  should  not  be  aware 
of  the  fact.  Miss  Ferris's  appearance,  leaning  on  Mr. 
Lecount's  arm,  was  the  signal  for  a  general  choice  of 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  143 

partners,  and  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  secure  Miss 
Pauline's  hand,  which  she  put  in  mine,  with  one  of  her 
most  fascinating  smiles  accompanying  the  favor.  In 
the  course  of  the  dance,  which  happened  to  be  the 
Lancers,  I  frequently  had  to  take  Miss  Ferris's  hand. 
The  heightened  color  and  confused  manner  proved  her 
consciousness  of  my  presence  each  time  ;  hut  her  eyes 
never  once  met  mine.  I  had  to  he  content  with  admir- 
ing the  long,  dark,  curling  lashes  that  shaded  them  so 
completely.  My  brilliant-looking  partner  rallied  me  on 
my  seriousness,  and  exerted  her  conversational  powers 
to  entertain  me.  I  confessed  to  feeling  rather  tired, 
having  travelled  day  and  night  from  Buffalo  without 
obtaining  much  rest.  When  the  dance  was  .over,  I 
joined  the  group,  composed  principally  of  her  family, 
and  answered  as  well  as  I  could  the  numberless  ques- 
tions put  to  me  by  them.  Their  interest  in  Miss  Ferris 
had  increased  to  a  great  degree,  and  Mrs.  Barrow  was 
expressing  her  opinions  of  Mrs.  Parker  in  a  way  any 
thing  but  complimentary  to  that  lady.  I  was  quite 
glad  to  rest  during  the  second  dance,  and  having  se- 
cured Miss  Marie's  hand  for  the  third  in  order,  I  re- 
signed myself  gracefully  to  the  attentions  of  which  I 
became  the  object. 

Mr.  Masters  was  exerting  himself  bravely  £o  com- 
plete the  effect  of  his  stratagem  already  so  successful, 
and  Mrs.  Masters  had  as  much  to  do  as  she  could  well 
attend  to,  finding  partners  for  the  young  people.  Mean- 
while I  never  turned  my  eyes  toward  Miss  Ferris  with- 


144  DB.  WTLMEE'S  LOVE. 

out  being  conscious  that  Miss  Pauline's  were  on  me.  I 
felt  a  slight  relief  when  Miss  Marie  and  I  had  taken  our 
places  in  a  quadrille ;  and  when  not  dancing,  I  followed 
the  movements  of  the  graceful,  fairy-like  figure  of  Miss 
Ferris,  with  eager  eyes.  She  was  dancing  in  the  set 
next  to  the  one  I  was  in,  and,  although  unconscious  of 
it  herself,  was  attracting  the  attention  of  all  in  the  room 
by  her  beauty. 

I  had  just  completed  my  share  of  a  movement  in  the 
dance,  when  a  piercing  scream  paralyzed  every  one  in  the 
company,  and,  darting  through  the  amazed  group,  Miss 
Ferris  flung  her  arms  around  my  neck,  and  hid  her  face 
against  my  shoulder,  shivering  and  gasping  with  fear. 

"  She  is  there  !  there,  by  the  door ! "  was  all  I  could 
make  out  from  her  confused,  incoherent  words.  We  all 
turned  in  that  direction.  There,  leaning  against  the 
wall,  as  if  for  support,  stood  Mrs.  Parker.  Surprise  had 
for  the  moment  rendered  her  motionless,  but,  before  we 
had  time  to  speak,  she  advanced  rapidly  toward  me,  her 
eager,  wild  eyes  fixed  on  Miss  Ferris,  and  her  hands 
outstretched,  as  if  to  grasp  her. 

As  I  caught  her  arm,  she  glanced  at  me  for  the  first 
time.  The  effect  was  most  strange  and  instantaneous. 
The  wild  glare  died  out  of  her  eyes,  she  turned  pale,  and 
would  have  fallen  but  for  her  husband,  who  rushed  for- 
ward and  caught  her  as  she  fainted.  Mrs.  Masters  sent 
for  restoratives,  and  while  some  gathered  round  Mrs. 
Parker,  others  pressed  around  Miss  Ferris,  reassuring 
her,  and  begging  of  her  to  compose  herself.  I  was  sur- 


AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST.  145 

prised  at  the  effect  that  the  sight  of  her  step-mother  had 
upon  her,  although  no  one  in  the  room  understood  so 
well  the  delicacy  of  her  constitution.  Without  losing 
consciousness,  she  became  so  faint  as  to  be  unable  to 
walk  without  support,  and  so  I  carried  her  into  the  little 
conservatory,  where  I  left  her  with  my  sister  and  mother, 
while  I  returned  to  assist  Mr.  Masters,  if  necessary. 

Mr.  Parker  had,  very  sensibly,  refused  to  allow  the 
affair  to  be  discussed  that  night,  not  thinking  his  wife 
equal  to  the  effort.  Mr.  Masters  proposed  a  meeting 
the  next  day,  at  which  I  would  be  present,  and  sug- 
gested that  all  claims  on  both  Miss  Ferris  and  the  prop- 
erty should  be  then  settled. 

Mr.  Parker  would  give  no  answer  until  his  wife  was 
able  to  take  her  share  in  the  discussion,  and  Mr.  Masters 
agreed,  assuring  them  that  he  had  no  intention  of  pros- 
ecuting them  for  their  treatment  of  Miss  Ferris,  as  such 
a  proceeding  would  be  opposed  to  the  ybung  lady's  own 
wishes.  He,  however,  alluded  to  the  powerful  witness 
he  would  have  in  the  person  of  Doctor  Wilmer,  and  the 
remark  had  a  decided  effect.  The  conversation  had 
been  carried  on  in  tones  loud  enough  for  all  in  the  room 
to  hear.  Mrs.  Parker,  having  regained  some  of  her  old 
firmness,  listen^  attentively,  without  speaking,  as 
though  weighing  the  principal  points  in  her  own  mind. 
Mr.  Masters'  quiet  dignity,  as  if  conscious  of  the  strength 
of  his  own  position,  was  a  marked  contrast  to  the  affect- 
ed coolness  and  the  attempted  arrogance  of  Mr.  Parker. 
Possibly  the  man  felt  thoroughly  ashamed  of  himself 
7 


146  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

for  the  part  he  had  played  in  the  affair,  which,  dramatic 
as  it  might  appear  to  many,  proved  very  nearly  tragic 
to  one  of  the  actors  in  it. 

Mrs.  Parker's  feelings,  on  finding  herself  surrounded 
by  the  very  persons  among  whom  she  had  intended  to 
reside  on  terms  of  friendship,  may  be  imagined  but  not 
described.  She  had  to  look  only  in  the  faces  present,  to 
know  in  what  estimation  they  held  her.  With  them 
her  power  was  lost  forever.  A  sigh  of  relief  followed 
her  as  she  left  the  room  for  her  carriage,  and  then 
every  one  commenced  giving  his  opinions  on  the  whole 
affair,  which  certainly  could  not  have  happened  more 
opportunely.  No  greater  proof  of  Miss  Ferris's  identity 
could  have  been  given,  and  her  triumph  and  Mrs.  Par- 
ker's punishment  had  been  effected  simultaneously. 

From  what  we  afterward  learned,  the  circumstance 
was  easily  explained.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  had  re- 
turned fromEurope^thc  evening  before,  and  had  taken  the 
earliest  occasion  to  call  on  Mr.  Masters.  Being  in  din- 
ner dress,  the  servant  had  naturally  mistaken  them  for 
invited  guests,  and  had  at  once  ushered  them  into  the 
room,  causing  a  scene  as  strange  as  it  was  unexpected. 
It  had  not  the  effect  of  breaking  up  the  party,  and  after 
supper  every  thing  wore  its  usual  asplfct.  Miss  Ferris 
took  my  advice,  and  remained  quiet  during  several 
dances,  but  I  could  hardly  approach  her  at  those  times 
owing  to  the  number  surrounding  her,  and  so  all  hopes 
of  a  conversation  were  over.  It  happened  that  the 
dances  for  which  she  was  engaged  to  me  were  the  ones 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GDEST.  147 

that  I  bad  prohibited  as  too  exciting,  and  instead  of 
having  her  company  to  myself  while  they  were  in  prog- 
ress, I  had  to  share  it  with  Mr.  Claude  and  Miss  Pau- 
line, as  neither  of  them  would  think  of  dancing  when 
she  had  to  remain  quiet.  At  every  turn  I  found  myself 
met  and  defeated  by  my  smiling  antagonist  in  white 
and  red,  and  certainly  her  devotion  to  her  brother  was 
most  admirable.  It  was  an  early  hour  in  the  morning 
when  the  last  carriage  left  the  door.  The  young  ladies 
did  not  appear  at  breakfast,  being  "  too  tired  to  think 
of  such  a  thing,"  my  sister  told  me. 

My  stock  of  patience  was  large,  and  I  read  the 
papers  in  the  library,  wandered  about  the  parlors,  set- 
tled matters  with  my  mother  and  sister,  listened  to  their 
plans — they  were  projecting  a  great  shopping  expedi- 
tion, from  which  I  begged  to  be  excused,  not  caring 
particularly  whether  the  new  curtains  were  crimson  or 
black — and  killed  time  to  the  best  of  my  ability  until 
two  o'clock.  That  was  the  usual  hour  for  luncheon,  and 
I  waited  for  the  young  ladies  before  descending  to  the 
dining-room. 

Mr.  Masters,  who  had  been  busy  in  the  library  all  the 
morning  collecting  papers  relating  to  Miss  Ferris  and1 
her  property,  no^came  in  with  a  note  just  received 
from  Mr.  Parker. 

"Just  as  I  suspected — she  is  taking  time  to  rally 
her  forces,"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  they  cannot  make  any  ap- 
pointment now,  as  Mrs.  Parker  is  quite  sick.  "Well, 
we  must  not  allow  Belle  outside  the  door,  without  two 


148  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

of  us  at  least  near  her ;  and  after  lunch  I  am  going  to 
search  for  the  register  of  her  mother's  marriage,  and  her 
own  birth.  That  woman  has  .every  paper  in  her  posses- 
sion, and  she  may  deny  Belle's  age.  I  must  have  a  law- 
yer's advice  on  the  matter,  and  the  quicker  we  collect 
our  documents  the  better." 

"John  is  waiting  for  the  girls,"  said  my  sister, 
amused  at  my  impatience. 

"  So  Miss  Pauline  is  bashful,"  laughed  Mr.  Masters, 
with  a  side  glance  at  his  wife.  He  rang  the  bell.  "  Tell 
the  young  ladies  that  we  are  waiting." 

"  If  you  please,  sir,  they  won't  be  down  ;  they  had 
breakfast  brought  up  to  them  late,"  was  the  servant's 
answer. 

Mr.  Masters  laughed,  and  enjoyed  his  lunch  more 
than  I  did.  We  were  more  fortunate  in  what  we  had 
undertaken  outside  the  house.  The  doctor's  book  was 
at  our  service,  and  the  church  register  was  perfectly 
clear.  The  lawyer  took  copies  of  all  the  papers  neces- 
sary, and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  we  Avould  meet 
with  no  opposition  from  Mrs.  Parker.  Mr.  Masters 
returned  home  in  high  glee,  and  we  found  the  family 
•party  assembled  in  the  parlor.  Mr.  Claude,  having  a 
standing  invitation  to  dinner,  was  4P  duty  beside  the 
piano,  where  Miss  Ferris  was  trying  over  some  new 
music.  TVe  told  of  our  successful  search,  and  were  com- 
plimented  on  our  wisdom.  I  went  over  to  Miss  Ferris. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  very  tired  after  last  night. 
You  are  unused  to  so  much  excitement." 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  14:9 

"  Not  very,"  she  answered,  "  but  you  must  be  strong. 
Pauline  heard  you  going  oat  this  morning  before  eight 
o'clock." 

"  Did  she,  indeed  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  thought  you  -would  have  slept  later,  after 
such  tiresome  travelling.  We  both  wondered  what  im- 
portant business  could  call  you  out  at  that  hour." 

"  And  what  have  you  been  occupied  with  all  day?  " 
I  asked. 

"  With  nothing  of  any  use.  Pauline  darkened  the 
rooms,  and  made  me  sleep  very  late.  She  was  afraid  I 
would  be  sick  after  what  happened  last  night,  and,  in- 
deed, I  am  sure  I  acted  very  foolishly ;  but  you  can't 
imagine  how  frightened  I  was,  when  I  looked  up  and 
met  Mrs.  Parker's  eyes  fastened  on  me,  they  were  so 
wild  and  wicked,  and  the  whole  thing  was  so  sudden 
and  unexpected." 

"  I  can  understand  your  feelings  very  well.  It  would 
take  a  person  with  stronger  nerves  than  you  possess,  to 
bear  such  a  shock  with  coolness,"  I  replied. 

She  looked  up  at  me  as  if  relieved  of  some  doubt, 
and  her  face  brightened. 

"  I  was  afraid  you  thought  me  both  silly  and  affected." 

"Did  I  ever  say  or  do  any  thing  that  could  lead  you 
to  believe  that  I  had  such  an  opinion  of  you  ?  "  I  asked. 

She  flushed,  and  was  about  answering,  when  Miss 
Pauline's  voice,  close  beside  us,  inquired — 

"  Belle,  love,  did  you  speak  to  Doctor  Wilmcr  about 
the  concert  ?  " 


150  DE.  WILMZR'S  LOVE. 

"  I  never  thought  of  it,"  was  the  answer. 

I  turned  to  look  at  my  fair  antagonist,  in  white  mus- 
lin and  crimson  ribbons,  who  did  not  scruple  to  use 
deceit  in  gaining  her  ends.  She  at  once  described  the 
objects  of  the  concert  to  which  they  were  going  that 
evening,  with  her  two  brothers ;  and  Mr.  Masters,  join- 
ing the  group,  proposed  that  we  should  all  go  in  a  party, 
if  there  was  any  thing  worth  hearing  to  be  sung. 

At  dinner,  and  at  the  concert  afterward,  ML«s 
Ferris  was  completely  monopolized  by  the  two  gentle- 
men, and  I  devoted  myself  to  Miss  Pauline  and  her 
sister.  The  two  young  ladies  were  to  spend  a  month 
with  Miss  Ferris,  as  Mr.  Masters  was  afraid  of  her  be- 
coming homesick  if  deprived  of  all  her  friends  at  once. 
My  sister  and  mother  intended  going  home  the  next 
day,  much  to  the  disappointment  of  our  kind  host,  who 
was  never  happier  than  when  completely  surrounded  by 
company.  I  only  awaited  the  conclusion  of  the  difficul- 
ty with  the  Parkers,  feeling  more  and  more  convinced 
of  Miss  Ferris's  growing  indifference  to  me.  Her  words 
were  pleasant  enough,  when  now  and  then,  for  a  few 
minutes  at  a  time,  I  found  an  opportunity  to  converse 
with  her.  But  the  old  warmth  of  manner  and  childish 
confidence  were  gone.  She  was  perfectly  polite,  but 
guarded  and  reticent,  as  if  fearing  herself  Even  with 
Mr.  Masters  and  his  wife,  her  playful  looks  and  pretty 
petulance  were  giving  place  to  a  more  womanly  and 
quiet  style  of  showing  her  devotion.  I  argued  that  this 
was  a  natural  and  usual  alteration,  characterizing  the 


AN    UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  151 

change  from  careless  childhood  to  thoughtful  woman- 
hood. Mr.  Masters,  if  he  was  conscious  of  the  differ- 
ence in  her,  did  not  mention  it. 

I  could  not  help  thinking  that  Miss  Pauline  was  in 
some  way  accountable  for  the  change  in  my  once  warm- 
hearted little  patient. 

One  day  I  met  Harry  "Weston  in  the  street,  and  I 
fulfilled  my  promise  to  him  by  explaining  my  curious 
conduct  during  his  former  visit  to  the  city.  His  aston- 
ishment was  intense,  and  his  congratulations  most  sin- 
cere. He  also  had  something  pleasant  to  tell  me.  He 
was  about  to  be  married  to  Miss  Edith  Fullerton,  and 
insisted  on  my  being  present  at  the  ceremony.  "We 
strolled  down  to  Mr.  Masters'  office,  and  I  introduced 
him  to  the  good  old  gentleman.  The  friendship  which 
resulted  from  their  meeting  has  grown  into  a  warm  at- 
tachment between  the  two  families. 

I  renewed  my  acquaintance  with  Miss  Fullerton 
that  evening,  and  she  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  meet 
again  the  pretty  girl  who  had  attracted  her  attention 
that  memorable  day  on  the  island.  She  heard  with 
astonishment  the  useful  part  taken  by  her  shawl  and 
parasol  in  the  proceedings  of  that  afternoon,  and  did 
not  wonder  at  my  wish  to  retain  them.  Miss  Ferris 
remembered  the  meeting,  and  was  quite  anxious  to 
see  Miss  Fullerton  when  I  told  her  of  my  visit  the 
morning  after.  Several  visits  between  the  ladies  of  the 
two  families  took  place  before  Miss  Fullerton's  mar- 
riage, and  I  saw  with  pleasure  that  Miss  Ferris  regarded 


152  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

her  new  friend  with  feelings  of  real  admiration  and  love. 
As  Harry  "Weston  intended  spending  some  months  in 
New  York  with  his  bride,  I  felt  more  satisfied  about 
leaving  it ;  the  companionship  of  a  sensible,  intellectual 
woman,  like  Mrs.  Weston,  could  not  but  have  a  good 
effect  on  Miss  Ferris,  and  might  serve  to  counteract  the 
influence  exerted  over  her  by  Miss  Pauline.  From  my 
former  knowledge  of  Mrs.  Weston,  I  felt  that  she  was 
conscientious,  and  firm  enough  to  uphold  her  own  con- 
victions ;  I  very  much  doubted  Miss  Pauline's  truthful- 
ness, and  Miss  Ferris  trusted  in  her.  How  far  she 
might  venture  in  order  to  accomplish  what  she  had  un- 
dertaken, was  a  question  difficult  to  answer. 

I  would  not  think  of  poisoning  the  delicate,  sensitive 
mind  with  suspicions  which  I  could  not  prove,  and,  al- 
though, as  the  days  went  by,  I  disliked  Miss  Pauline 
more  and  more,  I  kept  my  doubts  in  my  own  heart. 
Miss  Pauline  displayed  a  tact  and  a  knowledge  of  strata- 
gem quite  wonderful  to  me.  She  was  prepared  for  me 
at  all  points,  and  she  worked  so  quietly  and  cleverly 
that  no  one  ever  suspected  her  designs.  It  was  only 
on  looking  back,  after  being  thwarted  in  some  pet 
scheme,  and  trying  to  see  why  I  had  failed  in  effecting 
it,  that  I  could  trace  her  influence  in  frustrating  it.  If 
I  purposely  remained  in  the  house  with  the  hope  of  en- 
joying Miss  Ferris's  society,  there  was  always  some 
excuse  for  the  young  ladies  to  go  out;  some  shopping 
had  to  be  done,  or  a  visit  must  be  returned.  If  I  pro- 
posed a  party  to  a  picture-gallery,  or  a  public  institu- 


AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST.  153 

tion,  a  severe  headache  was  sure  to  attack  Miss  Pauline 
or  her  sister.  My  time  hung  heavy  on  my  hands,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parker  still  remained  silent,  my  mother  and 
sister  were  home,  Harry  Weston  and  his  bride  were  out 
of  town,  and  Mr.  Masters  was  busy  looking  after  the 
progress  of  some  of  his  recent  speculations.  In  the 
evenings  we  were  sure  to  be  joined  by  visitors  if 
we  remained  at  home,  and  if  we  went  out  Mr.  Claude 
always  made  one  of  the  party. 

At  last,  when  my  patience  was  nearly  exhausted, 
Mr.  Parker  called  on  Mr.  Masters  and  begged  to  have 
a  settlement  arranged  without  the  necessity  of  his  wife 
appearing  in  the  affair.  Mr.  Masters  insisted  on  having 
the  large  sums  refunded  which  Mrs.  Parker  had  drawn 
during  her  absence  in  Europe.  A  considerable  delay 
and  many  arguments  ensued.  Mr.  Parker  threatened 
to  claim  possession  of  Miss  Ferris,  on  the  plea  that  she 
was  not  yet  of  age,  and  firmly  refused  to  give  up  his 
trusteeship  of  her  property.  Mr.  Masters  showed  the 
proofs  of  her  age,  and  referred  to  her  father's  will, 
which  allowed  her  to  make  her  own  selection  with  re- 
gard both  to  the  persons  she  would  live  with  and  her 
choice  in  marriage.  He  declared  his  intention  of  stand- 
ing a  lawsuit,  which  would  involve  a  terrible  exposure, 
as  far  as  Mrs.  Parker  was  concerned,  rather  than  with- 
draw one  of  his  points.  How  far  Mr.  Parker  had  been 
connected  with  the  plot  we  could  not  tell ;  there  was  no 
positive  proof  of  his  knowledge  of  it  whatever.  We 
might  suspect  him,  but  we  could  not  charge  him  with 
7* 


154:  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

complicity  in  it.  Owing  to  the  curious  provisions  of  the 
will,  the  business  connection  between  the  two  trustees 
could  not  be  dissolved,  unless  one  should  resign  volun- 
tarily, and  appoint  a  successor  acceptable  to  the  other. 
The  property  could  not  be  sold ;  the  interest  alone  was 
to  be  equally  divided  between  the  two  legatees,  the 
trustees,  of  course,  having  the  power  to  invest  it  for 
their  benefit.  Therefore,  as  long  as  they  both  lived, 
the  two  ladies  would  have  an  equal  amount  from  the 
original  estate  every  year,  although  the  value  of  their 
separate  investments  of  that  amount  might  vary. 
Hitherto,  Mr.  Masters  bad  made  those  investments  for 
both  parties,  and  the  results  had  been  about  equal. 
He  declined,  in  future,  having  any  thing  to  do  with 
Mrs.  Parker's  share,  further  than  was  required  by  the 
provisions  of  the  will,  not  wishing  to  meet  that  lady 
under  any  circumstances. 

I  was  present  at  every  interview  between  the  two 
gentlemen,  and,  although  I  took  no  active  part  in  the 
settlement,  I  could  see  that  my  presence  carried  its 
weight  with  Mr.  Parker.  Considerations  for  his  wife, 
against  whom  I  would  be  a  very  strong  witness,  made 
him  agree  in  the  end  to  Mr.  Masters'  proposition.  The 
money,  amounting  to  several  thousand  dollars,  was  re- 
turned, and  the  agreement  signed.  Mrs.  Parker  gave 
up  all  claims  on  the  custody  of  Miss  Ferris ;  and  we,  on 
the  part  of  that  young  lady,  promised  that  no  prosecu- 
tion for  past  ill-treatment  should  be  undertaken. 

I  must  confess  I  felt  sorry  that  Mrs.  Parker  escaped 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  155 

without  any  punishment  save  the  loss  of  some  money. 
Still,  on  the  whole,  we  had  great  reasons  for  being 
satisfied  with  the  arrangement.  When  we  told  the  re- 
sult to  the  assembled  family  that  evening,  Miss  Ferris 
was  the  least  excited  of  the  whole  party  at  what  had 
happened.  She  only  said  : 

"  I  am  so  happy  at  present,  that  I  cannot  wish  any 
ill  to  her.  Perhaps,  too,  she  is  sorry  now  for  what  has 
occurred.  *We  should  try  and  forget  it  all." 

"  You  are  too  good-natured,  Belle,  darling,"  Miss 
Pauline  said,  throwing  her  arms  around  Miss  Ferris, 
and  kissing  her. 

"  Belle  is  trying  to  do  right,"  said  Mrs.  Masters,  in 
a  low  tone ;  "  the  rule  is,  never  to  remember  an  injury, 
nor  forget  a  kindness." 

Miss  Ferris  colored,  and  looked  a/  her  fan. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  who  ever  kept  up  to  it  ? " 
asked  Miss  Marie  Lecount,  smiling. 

"No  one,"  answered  her  sister;  "some  remember 
both  the  injuries  and  kindnesses,  and  some  think  of  the 
injuries  only,  because  they  always  make  the  deepest 
impression.  Others  forget  both — the  whole  thing  is  a 
mere  question  of  memory." 

"  Then  you  doubt  the  possibility  of  the  rule  being 
practised  ?  "  I  remarked. 

"  Yes,  taken  in  its  literal  sense.  A  memory  strong 
enough  to  recollect  every  kindness  experienced  by  its 
possessor,  will  surely  retain  also  the  impression  of  an 
injury  received.  I  think  it  means  this:  we  can  reinem- 


15G  mi.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

ber  the  injury,  but  we  must  not  act  upon  that  recollec- 
tion by  seeking  to  revenge  it." 

"  That  is  the  spirit  of  the  law,  decidedly,"  said  Mrs. 
Masters. 

"And  it  needs  a  strong  will  to  practise  it,"  re- 
marked her  husband.  "  A  man  who  can  perform  it  by 
overcoming  himself  deserves,  in  my  opinion,  a  great 
deal  of  credit." 

"  Yes,  much  more  than  one  who  is  kind  to  those 
who  have  wronged  him,  simply  because  his  memory  is 
too  poor  to  remember  in  what  they  offended  him.  I 
would  not  give  much  for  his  gratitude  for  past  kind- 
ness," remarked  Mr.  Claude  Lecount. 

"  Nor  I  either,"  said  his  sister  Pauline. 

"  In  that  case  a  poor  memory  would  be  the  easiest 
to  go  through  th^  world  with,  because  one  wouldn't 
have  to  be  always  fighting  against  an  evil  spirit,  even 
if  it  is  good  for  self-discipline,"  Miss  Ferris  said,  in  a 
low  tone ;  "  but  surely  there  is  something  more  than 
mere  memory  involved  in  the  question.  I  think  the 
Avhole  nature  and  temperament  exert  an  influence  in  the 
matter — don't  you,  Doctor  Wilmer  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  I  answered.  "  I  think  that  some  people 
are  more  charitable  and  readier  to  find  excuses  for  a 
fault,  even  when  committed  against  themselves,  than 
others;  and  by  them,  of  course,  forgiveness  is  more 
easily  exercised  than  by  persons  naturally  morose  and 
vindictive.  The  latter  class  will  brood  over  a  thought- 
less slight,  until,  to  their  morbid  minds,  it  becomes  a 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  157 

serious  injury ;  whereas,  the  very  same  offence  would  be 
either  altogether  unnoticed,  or  passed  by  as  totally  in- 
significant, by  the  former." 

"And  do  you  think  that  these  people,  who  from 
their  nature  can  forgive  easily,  are  always  grateful  for 
a  kindness  ?  "  asked  Miss  Pauline,  giving  me  a  search- 
ing glance  from  her  magnificent  eyes. 

"Most  decidedly,  from  their  very  generosity  and 
warm-heartedness,  they  are,  if  any  thing,  more  likely  to 
magnify  a  favor,  and  attribute  to  it  effects  of  which  it  is 
not  always  the  true  cause." 

"  Such  people  are  very  rare.  I  never  met  with  any 
of  them,"  said  Miss  Pauline,  smiling  rather  sneeringly. 

"  Which  does  not  prove  the  fact  of  their  non-exist- 
ence. They  may  be  the  exception  to  the  general  rule ; 
but,  remember,  that  such  a  character  takes  time  to  de- 
velop itself,  and  is  in  danger  of  being  frequently,  if  not 
altogether,  misunderstood.  I  have  a  theory  that  the 
finest  natures  are  the  least  appreciated  in  this  world, 
because  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the  mass.  They 
seldom  meet  with  kindred  spirits  capable  of  satisfying 
them ;  and  so  their  deepest  and  best  emotions  remain 
hidden  in  their  own  breasts — felt,  but  unexpressed." 

"  Dear  me,  I  should  not  care  to  know  any  so  difficult 
to  understand ;  I  should  be  forever  wounding  them  un- 
consciously ;  I  prefer  people  who  show  their  true  natures 
on  the  surface,  people  that  I  can  read  at  a  glance,"  said 
Miss  Pauline,  taking  Miss  Fcrris's  hand  in  her  own  and 
softly  pressing  it.  Miss  Ferris  was  apparently  too  much 


158  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

interested  in  the  conversation  to  notice  her  friend's  de- 
votion. 

"  Of  course,  you  practise  what  you  admire  so  much," 
I  remarked,  looking  at  Miss  Pauline.  She  blushed  con- 
fusedly, and  turned  away,  without  replying. 

"  What  a  comical  thing  it  would  be  if  everybody 
were  obliged  to  say  exactly  what  they  thought,  and  not 
even  allowed  to  give  a  wrong  impression  ! "  said  Miss 
Ferris. 

"  I  know  what  I  think  now,"  said  Mrs.  Masters, 
smiling. 

We  all  looked  at  her  expectantly. 

"  Come,  Sallie,  give  us  your  opinion,"  said  her  hus- 
band. 

"  Well,  I  think  the  sooner  we  begin  to  forget  our 
grievances,  and  think  only  of  our  many  blessings,  the 
better.  That  is  what  Belle  has  resolved  to  do ;  and 
now,  if  you  please,  dinner  is  waiting. — Give  me  your 
arm,  Doctor  Wilmer.  I  think,"  she  added,  in  a  lower 
tone  to  me,  "  that  the  conversation  was  becoming  un- 
pleasant to  Miss  Pauline — she  seemed  annoyed." 

I  looked  into  her  face,  amused  at  her  shrewdness ; 
surely  this  quiet,  good-humored  little  woman  saw  more 
than  people  supposed. 

During  the  dinner-hour  Mr.  Claude  talked  a  great 
deal  to  Mr.  Masters  about  his  own  prospects.  I  sat  be- 
tween the  two  gentlemen,  and,  as  Mr.  Masters  constantly 
turned  to  me  for  an  opinion,  I  became  quite  conversant 
\vith  the  business  affairs  in  which  Mr.  Claude  was  en- 


AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST.  159 

gaged.  The  gentleman,  in  whose  employment  he  was, 
had  formerly  been  a  lawyer  of  some  reputation,  and  still 
devoted  a  part  of  his  time  and  talents  to  his  legitimate 
profession.  Latterly,  he  had  been  operating  in  stocks 
to  a  large  extent ;  and,  according  to  his  young  clerk's 
opinion,  was  rapidly  amassing  a  fortune. 

"  He  is  about  entering  into  a  new  speculation," 
went  on  Mr.  Claude.  The  topic  under  discussion  by 
the  ladies  having  become  exhausted  at  this  juncture, 
they  all  turned  their  attention  to  Mr.  Claude's  conver- 
sation. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Masters  ;  "  does  it 
promise  to  pay  well — any  chance  of  a  dividend  within 
ten  years  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes  !  the  expenses  are  not  heavy ;  after  a  few 
months  they  expect  to  pay  seven  per  cent.  I  wish  you 
could  meet  the  gentleman  who  knows  all  about  the 
quarry." 

"  Oh  !  it's  a  quarry,  is  it  ?  "  answered  Mr.  Masters, 
with  a  dubious  smile.  "  Where  is  it  ?  " 

"  Down  South  somewhere.     Soapstone." 

"  Soapstone  ! "  repeated  Mr.  Masters.  "  Well,  what 
do  they  propose  doing  with  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  quantities  of  useful  articles  can  be  manufac- 
tured from  it — slate-pencils,  griddles —  " 

"  Griddles  ! "  echoed  Mrs.  Masters.  "  Well,  that  is 
something  new.  I  should  prefer  an  iron  one." 

"  These  that  we  propose  making  will  be  much  bet- 
ter. Owing  to  the  greasy  nature  of  the  stone,  no  butter 


160  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

will  be  required  in  the  baking,  and  the  cakes  will  be 
much  healthier." 

"  Well,  they  find  out  something  new  every  day," 
said  Mrs.  Masters  with  a  sigh.  "  The  world  will  soon 
be  too  learned  for  me." 

"  Mr.  Walker  is  to  be  president,  and  Mr.  Parker 
treasurer. 

"  What  Parker  is  that  ? "  asked  Mr.  Masters,  be- 
coming suddenly  interested. 

"  The  same  one  that  was  here  the  other  night,"  an- 
swered Mr.  Claude. 

"  I  gave  Parker  credit  for  more  wisdom,"  Mr.  Mas- 
ters said,  slowly ;  "  although  I  remember  that  at  one 
time  he  was  interested  in  a  coal-mine.  Well,  he  is 
shrewd ;  there  may  be  something  in  it  worth  the  ven- 
ture. I  hope  you  don't  intend  to  invest.  A  young  fel- 
low like  you  had  better  put  his  money  where  he  is  sure 
of  finding  it  when  he  needs  it." 

Mr.  Claude  colored. 

"  As  yet,"  he  answered,  "  I  have  nothing  to  invest. 
Mr.  Walker  has  been  kind  enough  to  propose  me  for 
secretary ;  and  he  offered,  yesterday,  to  give  me  an  in- 
terest in  the  firm  after  January." 

"  What  kind  of  a  person  is  this  that  you  say  knows 
all  about  the  quarry  ?  What  is  his  name  ?  " 

"  Hammond — S.  Y.  Hammond  he  signs  himself,  per- 
haps you  know  him.  He  is  a  tall,  elegant-looking  man, 
well  educated,  and  knows  all  the  first  people  in  the 
country  intimately.  You  can't  mention  a  subject  that 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  161 

he  is  not  thoroughly  at  home  upon,  and  his  manners  are 
perfect." 

"  Is  he  a  New-Yorker  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Masters,  thought- 
fully, as  if  trying  to  bring  the  name  to  his  recollection. 

"  No,  he  is  a  Western  man.  He  stops  at  the  Metro- 
politan at  present." 

"  As  a  general  thing,  I  don't  much  like  these  stran- 
gers who  stop  at  hotels,  and  are  concerned  in  specu- 
lations. There's  a  lack  of  solidity  about  them  that  is 
rather  doubtful.  They  are  here  to-day,  and  off,  no  one 
knows  where,  to-morrow.  If  you  have  any  influence 
with  Mr.  Walker,  I  should  advise  you  to  speak  to  him. 
Tell  him  to  think  seriously  on  the  matter  before  under- 
taking it.  It  is  rather  an  expensive  affair  to  put  in 
operation  without  due  foresight." 

"  The  company  is  already  pretty  well  established. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  shareholders  is  called  for  to- 
morrow, and  Mr.  Walker  expects  the  work  to  be  com- 
menced in  a  few  weeks." 

Mr.  Claude  Lecount  was  evidently  very  much  im- 
pressed with  the  beauties  of  speculation ;  and,  after  our 
return  to  the  parlor,  he  entered  into  an  explanation  of 
how  such  matters  were  conducted,  for  the  benefit  of 
Miss  Ferris,  who  hitherto  had  been  in  blissful  ignorance 
of  their  existence.  I  saw  that  Mr.  Masters  viewed  his 
new  ideas  with  distrust,  and  felt  uneasy  about  the  in- 
fatuation which  had  taken  such  hold  upon  his  thoughts. 
He  talked  on  about  the  wonderful  luck  that  some  men 
had.  One  gentleman  was  driving  his  own  horses,  who, 


162  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

two  years  before,  was  not  worth  a  hundred  dollars. 
Another,  the  president  of  a  mining  company  in  South 
America,  was  building  a  magnificent  country-seat  on 
the  Hudson,  after  plans  sent  to  him  by  his  family  from 
Europe,  where  they  were  then  travelling.  Ten  years 
before,  he  had  been  going  about  the  city  living  on  his 
wits,  or,  as  Mr.  Dickens  has  it,  "  the  absence  of  wit  in 
others."  Mr.  Masters  shook  his  head,  and  argued  the 
instability  of  a  fortune  made  in  such  ways.  He  con- 
sidered that  it  only  rendered  men  careless  ;  that  money 
so  easily  acquired  was  never  properly  valued,  and  was 
very  likely  to  be  squandered  even  more  rapidly  than  it 
had  been  gained.  These  arguments  had  no  effect  on 
Mr.  Claude  Lecount.  He  met  them  with  the  specious 
ones  so  artfully  dwelt  upon  by  the  head  movers  of  the 
speculation.  His  mind  was  evidently  made  up,  and  he 
no  doubt  considered  Mr.  Masters  as  being  rather  behind 
the  age.  He  pitied  him  for  his  willingness  to  plod  along 
in  the  old  beaten  track,  when  fortunes  were  to  be  made 
in  a  day  by  the  exertion  of  mere  shrewdness  or  cunning, 
instead  of  being  acquired  only  after  a  lifetime  of  steady, 
honest  toil. 

As  it  was  my  last  evening,  I  determined,  if  possible, 
to  reach  the  cause  of  Miss  Ferris's  coolness  toward  me ; 
and  with  that  intention  I  drew  my  seat  near  to  hers, 
and  led  the  conversation  to  my  proposed  removal  from 
Buffalo  and  establishment  in  my  native  town.  She  ap- 
peared interested,  but  there  was  no  visible  return  to  the 
old  manner.  The  presence  of  Miss  Pauline  seemed  to 


AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST.  163 

cast  a  spell  over  us.  I  felt  tbat  she  was  constrained, 
and  I  was  sure  of  my  own  lack  of  self-confidence. 

"  Belle,  will  you  try  this  air  from  '  Ernani  ? ' "  asked 
Mr.  Claude,  approaching  us. 

Miss  Ferris  blushed ;  and,  murmuring  an  assent, 
rose  and  went  to  the  piano. 

He  detained  her  at  it,  going  over  old  songs  and  try- 
ing new  ones  for  some  time.  I  strolled  into  the  library, 
threw  myself  into  an  arm-chair,  and  gave  up  to  the 
jealous  despair  that  had  seized  upon  me.  I  had  not 
only  to  lose  all  hope  of  gaining  her  love — even  her  girl- 
ish friendship  and  her  trust  in  me  had  been  undermined 
and  destroyed.  And  yet  what  a  contradiction  of  what 
I  had  once  supposed  her  true  character  to  be !  Could 
this  quiet,  dignified,  self-controlled  Miss  Ferris,  who 
weighed  her  words  before  speaking,  as  if  afraid  of  com- 
mitting herself,  be  indeed  the  warm-hearted,  impulsive 
child  who  had  once  thrown  herself  into  my  arms,  and 
wept  with  joy  on  seeing  me  ?  Should  I  ever  forget  that 
day,  or  the  light  that  shone  in  every  feature  of  her  face 
when  her  eyes  met  mine  ?  Could  I  not  yet  feel  the  clasp 
of  her  hand  on  my  arm,  and  hear  the  low,  appealing 
tones  of  her  voice  ?  Had  she  not,  but  a  few  short  weeks 
ago,  fled  to  me  for  protection  when  frightened,  although 
her  lover  stood  at  her  side  ?  Was  it  possible  that  we 
were  all  wearing  masks,  hiding  our  true  sentiments,  liv- 
ing in  a  state  of  cold  constraint  and  studied  indiffer- 
ence ?  Were  we  unconsciously  bringing  on  ourselves 
a  future  of  misery  and  vain  regrets  ?  Was  I  wrong  in 


164:  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

my  determination  not  to  possess  a  love  given  in  grati- 
tude ?  "Was  I  really  insuring  her  happiness  by  trampling 
on  my  own  heart,  and  crushing  its  love  and  hope  ? 

I  asked  myself  these  questions  over  and  over  again, 
each  time  becoming  less  satisfied  with  my  own  conduct. 
Under  an  impulse,  sudden  as  it  was  strange,  I  wrote  my 
sentiments,  described  all  my  feelings  toward  her  from 
the  first  time  I  saw  her  by  that  strange  deathbed,  until 
that  very  night  when  I  left  her  at  the  piano  with  one 
whose  claims  I  dared  to  question.  I  told  her  all  my 
doubts,  explained  my  silence,  and  the  motives  that  had 
caused  it.  I  said  that  I  would  not  be  satisfied  with  a 
love  springing  from  gratitude ;  that  if  for  a  moment  she 
doubted  her  feelings  for  me,  independent  of  all  that  had 
passed  before  her  meeting  with  Mr.  Lecount,  that  doubt 
must  decide  my  answer.  I  begged  of  her  to  think  well 
before  she  decided,  to  remember  the  difference  in  our 
years  and  means.  I  urged  no  claim ;  I  only  told  her 
that  I  loved  her,  not  for  her  beauty,  not  for  her  youth, 
but  for  the  mysterious,  indescribable  quality  which  she 
alone  possessed  of  all  the  women  whom  I  had  ever  met 
— that  strange  power,  in  which  heart  and  intellect  are 
united — that  capability  of  comprehending  one  intuitive- 
ly, of  understanding  one's  thoughts  and  wishes,  even 
when  unexpressed,  owing  to  that  quick  innate  percep- 
tion which  unites,  in  secret,  sympathetic  hearts  and 
minds.  I  arranged  that,  if  she  decided  against  me,  her 
silence  would  be  understood ;  if,  on  the  contrary,  she 
felt  that  I  might  hope,  I  should  expect  a  letter,  if  it  only 


AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST.  165 

contained  one  word.  By  this  plan  I  would  spare  her 
the  pain  of  writing  a  refusal. 

Having  sealed  my  letter  with  a  ring  on  which  my 
initials  were  engraved,  and  directed  it,  I  debated  how 
to  convey  it  to  her.  Her  book,  which  she  had  been 
reading  before  we  went  to  dinner,  was  lying  on  the 
table  near  me,  with  its  pretty  mark  in  the  place  where 
she  had  left  off.  I  remembered  seeing  her  arrange  it 
and  close  the  book  as  we  came  in.  I  opened  it  and  put 
my  letter  beside  the  mark,  on  which  the  words  "  Re- 
member me,"  worked  in  gold  beads,  and  "  Pauline,"  in 
smaller  letters  of  crimson  silk,  caught  my  attention. 
She  haunts  me,  I  thought,  as  I  closed  the  book  and  re- 
turned it  to  its  place. 

When  I  went  back  to  the  parlor  the  ladies  had  retired, 
and  Mr.  Claude  was  gone  away.  Mr.  Masters  was  stand- 
ing near  the  window  in  deep  thought.  He  had  turned 
out  all  but  one  jet,  and  started,  as  I  approached  him,  in 
the  dim  light. 

"  Oh,  Doctor  Wilmer,  it  is  you  ! "  he  exclaimed,  re- 
assured. "  I  was  just  thinking  over  all  Mr.  Lecount 
said  about  that  new  quarry  speculation.  What  a  hold 
it  has  taken  on  him ;  I  feel  sorry  for  it.  His  profession  is 
a  good  one  if  properly  followed  ;  but  it  seems  to  be  irk- 
some to  him  already.  He  wants  to  make  money  quickly, 
and  is  impatient  of  any  thing  that  demands  time  and 
labor.  However,  he  is  young,  and  may  see  the  folly  of 
the  thing  after  a  while.  He  has  nothing  to  lose,  and 
arguments  are  thrown  away  upon  him.  This  flinging 


1G6  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

away  the  substance  and  grasping  at  the  shadow  is  the 
common  disease  at  present ;  all  the  young  men  are  in- 
fected with  it.  You  won't  find  one  in  a  hundred  willing 
to  do  what  his  father  did  before  him  ;  work  for  the  lux- 
uries of  life,  and  attain  them  in  his  old  age  by  denying 
himself  in  his  youth.  He  must  have  them  at  once,  while, 
as  he  says,  he  is  young  and  can  enjoy  them.  That  is  all 
very  well  in  its  way,  provided  he  has  the  money  and 
can  honestly  afford  to  spend  it.  The  trouble  is,  that  not 
one  young  man  in  a  hundred,  or  I  may  say  a  thousand, 
possesses  the  means  of  gratifying  his  luxurious  tastes  con- 
scientiously, and  so,  as  soon  as  he  saves  a  little  money, 
he  begins  to  speculate.  If  he  succeeds,  every  one  he 
knows  follows  his  example ;  and  the  result  is,  that  hard 
work  is  at  a  discount,  and  speculation  on  the  increase." 

"  A  poor  prospect  for  the  country,"  I  remarked. 

"  Oh,  it  will  all  end  in  a  grand  crash  !  Somebody 
must  furnish  the  money  that  these  presidents,  directors, 
and  treasurers  are  squandering  ;  for  I  am  very  sure  that 
the  investments  themselves  have  not  realized  it  as  yet. 
The  shareholders  will  all  be  ruined — not  because  the 
speculations  are  bad,  but  because  their  money  is  mis- 
used. Instead  of  working  these  mines  and  quarries 
with  it,  and  thus  giving  employment  to  hundreds,  it 
goes  toward  buying  houses,  furniture,  and  fast  horses 
for  the  heads  of  the  companies.  The  sight  of  all  this 
style  and  magnificence  is  enough  to  turn  the  head  of  a 
young  fellow  like  Lecount.  He  thinks  he  can  do  the 
same." 


AN   UNEXPECTED   GUEST.  167 

"  You  don't  think  he  will  succeed,"  I  remarked, 
hardly  knowing  what  to  say. 

"  I  do  not.  He  is  not  shrewd  enough  for  the  busi- 
ness. He  might  become  a  very  good  lawyer,  and  I 
think  his  own  good  sense  will  show  him  the  wisdom  of 
applying  himself  to  his  profession.  It  is  one  of  the  best 
in  the  country,  I  am  sorry  to  say ;  but  then,  as  long  as 
people  will  go  to  law  about  trifles,  lawyers  will  fill  their 
own  pockets.  I  learned  by  experience,  years  ago,  that 
the  majority  of  lawsuits  help  only  the  lawyers  who 
carry  on  the  case.  I  am  afraid  this  connection  with 
Walker  will  injure  him  very  much.  Walker  is  one  of 
your  sharp  speculators.  He  always  manages  to  take 
care  of  himself,  but  I  don't  think  his  partners  usually 
fare  as  well.  He  will  excite  Lecount  with  his  descrip- 
tions of  mone^,  and  of  how  easily  it  is  made,  although 
I  don't  think  he  would  be  very  willing  to  enter  into  the 
details  of  the  transactions.  Such  men  are  nuisances  in 
a  community.  They  upset  a  man's  principles,  his  stand- 
ard of  honesty  becomes  gradually  lowered,  and  his  ideas 
of  right  and  wrong  grow  confused,  owing  to  their  crafty 
arguments  and  specious  excuses.  Their  offices  are  more 
to  be  feared  than  the  gambling-saloons.  A  man  goes 
into  a  regular  gaming-house  with  his  eyes  open,  and 
knowing  what  he  is  doing  ;  he  enters  blindfold  into 
speculations,  without  the  slightest  idea  of  what  they 
are  leading  him  to." 

I  felt  that  Mr.  Masters  was  fretting  for  Mr.  Lccount's 
future,  believing  that  he  would  endanger  the  comfort 


168  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

and  fortune  of  his  wife ;  and  certainly,  if  Miss  Ferris 
were  to  occupy  that  position,  the  old  gentleman's  anx- 
iety for  his  darling's  happiness  was  not  unfounded.  I 
did  not  dare  to  give  an  opinion  on  Mr.  Lecount,  as  my 
knowledge  of  that  gentleman  amounted  to  very  little, 
and  I  could  hardly  be  considered  an  impartial  judge. 


CHAPTER  YIL 

DEFEAT. 

THE  next  morning  I  took  my  leave  of  the  family. 
They  were  all  assembled  in  the  parlor,  and  I  found  no 
opportunity  of  speaking  to  Miss  Ferris  apart  from  the 
others.  I  felt  sure  that  my  letter  would  be  in  her  hands 
before  many  hours,  and  I  knew  that  it  would  explain 
every  thing  that  might  have  seemed  strange  in  my  man- 
ner and  conduct  toward  her.  She  bade  me  good-by  in  a 
nervous,  timid  way,  and  in  a  voice  so  low,  that  I  could 
hardly  catch  the  words.  Miss  Pauline,  on  the  contrary, 
overwhelmed  me  with  expressions  of  regret  at  my  de- 
parture, and  with  hopes  of  my  safe  arrival  at  home. 
They  followed  me  out  to  the  door,  and  when  I  reached 
the  corner  I  turned  to  take  another  look  at  them.  Mrs. 
Masters  and  the  two  sisters  were  bending  over  a  vine 
that  twined  on  the  balcony,  quite  forgetful  of  me. 
Miss  Ferris  was  looking  after  me,  her  hand  shading  her 
eyes  from  the  sun,  that  shone  full  on  her  slight  figure 
and  pretty  hair.  How  often  did  that  picture  come  be- 
fore my  eyes  in  after-years,  the  graceful  form,  the  small 
upraised  hand,  and  the  curls,  gleaming  like  gold  in  the 
8 


170  DK.    WILMEE'S   LOVE. 

sun's  rays,  that  fell  round  her  neck !  As  I  raised  my 
hat,  our  eyes  met,  and  for  a  moment  one  of  the  old 
smiles  lit  up  her  face.  Then  she  kissed  her  hand  to 
Mr.  Masters,  who  accompanied  me,  and  shook  her  head 
at  him  as  she  turned  to  enter  the  house.  But  the  smile 
was  mine,  and  for  months  the  recollection  of  it  made  me 
happy.  I  regarded  it  as  a  ray  of  hope,  and  when  most 
despairing  it  comforted  me.  Once  at  home,  my  business 
negotiations  employed  a  great  portion  of  my  time  and 
thoughts.  "Week  after  week  went  by,  until  at  last  I 
was  ready  to  leave  Buffalo.  Nothing  but  the  certainty 
that  I  was  making  my  mother  and  sister  happy  could 
have  recompensed  me  for  what  I  was  about  to  do.  In 
ten  years  I  had  formed  many  pleasant  friendships,  and 
my  prosperity  had  attached  me  to  the  city.  I  had  none 
but  happy  recollections  to  carry  away  with  me,  and  I 
left  my  position  with  regret.  Mrs.  Marks,  my  faithful 
housekeeper  during  my  residence  there,  was  to  remain 
with  my  successor ;  the  only  living  thing  that  I  took 
away  with  me  was  my  friend  Dash,  an  immense  New- 
foundland dog,  that  I  had  owned  for  some  years.  It 
had  been  given  me  when  a  mere  puppy,  by  a  little  boy 
whom  I  had  attended  in  a  long  sickness. 

The  boy  was  away  at  school  when  I  left  Buffalo. 
We  had  become  great  friends  after  his  recovery,  and  3 
valued  the  dog  for  his  sake  as  much  as  for  its  own.  My 
mother  was  amused  when  I  presented  my  travelling 
companion  to  her,  and  rather  frightened  when  he  placed 

one  of  his  huge  fore-paws  on  her  lap,  and  offered  her  the 

i 


DEFEAT.  171 

other  to  shake.  However,  his  honest  eyes  reassured 
her,  and  in  spite  of  the  resentment  at  his  intrusion  ex- 
hibited by  her  Maltese  cat,  and  his  immense  size  and 
voracious  appetite,  he  soon  became  a  general  favorite. 

My  mother  had  fitted  up  a  room  for  me,  on  the  door 
of  which  the  word  u  Office,"  in  large  letters,  attracted 
my  notice.  The  report  of  my  intention  to  establish  my- 
self in  the  place  had  spread  over  the  town,  and  before 
many  days  were  over  it  was  as  much  as  I  could  do  to 
attend  to  the  calls  I  received.  Every  case  that  had 
baffled  the  skill  of  the  two  doctors  belonging  to  the 
place  was  at  once  put  in  my  hands,  and  I  was  fortunate 
enough  to  treat  many  of  them  successfully.  I  found 
myself  fully  established,  and  quite  famous  in  a  very 
short  time,  much  to  my  own  astonishment ;  but  then  I 
had  my  reputation  made  before  going  there,  and  was 
comfortably  off  besides.  People  concluded  that  I  could 
afford  to  give  an  honest  opinion,  and  some  sound  advice, 
very  often  far  more  needed  than  medicine. 

Meanwhile,  how  did  matters  progress  outside  of  my 
professional  labors  ?  As  the  days  passed  by,  and  no  let- 
ter reached  me,  I  was  alternately  hopeful  and  despair- 
ing. My  arguments  for  and  against  myself  varied  with 
my  temper,  and  the  struggle  still  continued.  I  corre- 
sponded with  Mr.  Masters,  and  my  sister  received  letters 
regularly  from  her  old  pupil.  Miss  Pauline  had  been 
home  while  I  was  still  in  Buffalo,  but  when  I  reached 
my  mother's  house,  she  was  gone  back  to  New  York  to 
spend  the  winter  with  Miss  Ferris.  Mr.  Claude's  visits 


172  DE.  WILMEB'B  LOVE. 

to  his  home  had  ceased,  but  he  wrote  every  week.  Ac- 
cording to  all  accounts,  they  were  enjoying  themselves 
beyond  description.  Balls,  parties,  concerts,  and  the 
opera,  monopolized  the  attention  of  the  two  yoiing 
ladies.  They  were  rival  belles,  the  difference  in  their 
styles  preventing  jealousy.  Mr.  Claude's  letters,  the 
substance  of  them  being  always  communicated  to  my 
sister  by  his  admiring  mother,  were  filled  with  glowing 
descriptions  of  the  beauty  of  Miss  Ferris,  her  talents, 
the  admiration  called  forth  by  them,  the  wonders  of  her 
toilets,  and  the  attention  she  received.  Miss  Ferns 
wrote  more  about  her  friend  than  about  herself;  either 
shd  was  not  inclined  to  be  confidential,  or  my  sister  was 
not  the  one  to  whom  she  would  express  her  deeper 
feelings. 

I  had  called  once  or  twice  on  Mrs.  Lecopnt  with 
my  sister,  and  had  been  most  warmly  received  by  the 
family.  As  their  conversation  was  principally  on  the 
subject  that  engrossed  the  greater  part  of  my  thoughts, 
I  listened  to  it  eagerly,  as  it  gave  me  a  good  idea  of 
how  Miss  Ferris  passed  her  time.  One  morning  I  was 
present  at  the  arrival  of  a  packet  of  letters  and  papers, 
which  called  forth  various  comments. 

"Pauline  says  that  she  never  saw  such  a  girl.  It  is 
as  much  as  they  can  do  to  make  her  accept  invitations," 
began  Miss  Marie,  referring  to  the  open  letter  in  her  hand. 

"  That  is  curious,"  said  my  sister.  "  To  judge  from 
the  number  of  places  she  goes  to,  I  should  think  she 
must  be  perfectly  in  love  with  society." 


DEFEAT.  173 

"  Well,  no,"  answered  Mrs.  Lecount.  "  Pauline  has 
complained  of  her  dislike  to  fashionable  amusements  all 
alon^.  She  thinks  that  Belle  enters  into  them  more  to 

O 

please  her  guardian  than  herself.  I  am  sure  that  at 
home  here  she  thought  more  of  flowers  and  books  than 
of  any  thing  else.  Pauline  says  that  she  likes  to  read, 
and  would  never  pay  a  visit  but  for  her." 

"  I  always  thought  that  Belle's  tastes  were  domestic," 
said  my  sister ;  "  but  of  course  her  life  here  was  neces- 
sarily a  quiet  one,  and  a  person  could  hardly  form  a 
correct  opinion  of  her.  Society  has  charms  for  all  young 
people,  and  she  must  resemble  other  girls  more  or  less." 

"According  to  Pauline,"  remarked  Miss  Marie,  "  she 
does  not  care  for  the  attention  of  gentlemen.  She 
avoids  them  as  much  as  possible,  and  gives  them  no  en- 
couragAent." 

"  That  is  very  easily  accounted  for.  Belle  is  not  a 
flirt.  She  finds  no  pleasure  in  giving  others  pain  by  in- 
spiring sentiments  which  she  feels  she  cannot  return," 
answered  Mrs.  Lecount,  in  a  significant  tone,  and  with  a 
meaning  glance  at  her  daughter. 

My  sister  looked  conscious.  "  Belle  is  truly  honor- 
able," she  said. 

I  remember  that  visit  so  perfectly !  It  was  a  cold, 
wintry  day.  The  snow  lay  deep  on  the  ground,  daz- 
zling our  eyes  with  its  brilliant  ^yhitenes8  in  the  sun's 
rays.  I  had  driven  my  sister  over  in  a  sleigh,  and  she 
intended  riding  around  with  me  to  the  different  places 
where  I  had  to  make  calls.  She  often  accompanied  mo 

M 


174  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

in  this  way,  sometimes  leaving  the  sleigh  to  warm  her 
feet,  but  generally  remaining  in  it,  wrapped  up  in  the 
robes,  while  I  paid  my  short  visits.  As  we  drove  up 
the  long  avenue  leading  to  Mrs.  Lecount's,  I  noticed  the 
house  and  grounds  particularly,  and  the  aspect  of  decay 
hanging  over  every  thing  struck  me  more  forcibly  than 
ever. 

The  green  foliage  of  the  vines,  that  served  to  cover 
the  house  in  summer,  besides  adding  to  its  picturesque- 
ness,  had  all  disappeared,  and  nothing  remained  of  them 
but  the  lifeless  branches  that  shook  and  rustled  in  the 
wintry  wind.  The  sunbeams,  as  if  in  revenge  for  being 

shut  out  during  the  warm  weather,  now  darted  in  and  out 

/ 
unchecked,  bringing  to  light  the  broken  chimneys,  the 

dilapidated  shutters,  and  the  general  need  of  paint  and 
new  wood.  I  found  myself  thinking  that  M^Claude 
might  better  invest  his  spare  money  in  the  old  home- 
stead, thereby  making  it  comfortable  for  his  parents  and 
sisters,  than  sink  it  in  a  soapstone  quarry.  However, 
he  was  a  business  man,  and  I  was  a  doctor. 

Several  times  after  we  left  the  house  my  sister  rallied 
me  on  my  silence,  and  tried  in  vain  to  engage  my  atten- 
tion on  the  subject  uppermost  in  her  mind — the  visible 
lack  of  means  in  the  Lecounts'  home.  My  thoughts 
were  so  filled  with  Mrs.  Lecount's  little  speech,  that  I 
heard  my  sister's  words  without  answering  them. 

"  I  wonder,"  she  went  on,  "  why  Claude  is  not  able 
to  assist  them  more.  Before  he  left  home,  his  mother 
anticipated  great  things  from  his  settling  in  New  York. 


DEFEAT.  175 

So  far,  his  departure  has  not  benefited  her  much.  She 
tells  me  now  that  it  takes  a  great  deal  of  money  to  sup- 
port a  young  man  in  such  a  large  city,  and  particularly 
where  it  is  necessary  for  him  to  go  into  society  con- 
stantly. She  herself  had  no  idea  of  the  expenses  it  in- 
volves, but  she  says  that  it  is  absolutely  essential  to 
his  future  success,  and  she  will  deny  herself  and  the 
girls  rather  than  let  him  want  for  the  least  luxury.  It 
is  a  pity  about  Marie.  She  is  so  fond  of  gayety,  but  as 
it  is  impossible  to  dress  the  two  sisters  for  a  winter  in 
New  York,  and  as  Pauline  is  the  most  brilliant  and 
beautiful,  Marie  gives  way  to  her,  and  remains  at  home 
— buried,  you  may  say,  for  her  accomplishments  are  en- 
tirely thrown  away  here." 

"  Miss  Pauline  dressed  expensively  while  I  was  in 
New  "X^k,"  I  ventured  to  remark. 

"Yes,  I  know,  but  Mrs.  Masters  is  continually 
making  her  the  richest  presents,  out  of  gratitude  for  her 
kindness  to  Belle,  and  here  at  home  they  practise  the 
closest  economy,  so  that  she  may  queen  it  in  New  York 
this  winter." 

My  sister  woke  me  out  of  a  reverie  by  shaking  my 
arm,  and  exclaiming — . 

"  John,  I  wish  you  would  take  it  into  your  wise 
head  to  fall  in  love  with  Pauline.  I  have  often  felt  sure 
that  she  rather  fancied  you,  and  mother  and  I  would 
both  be  pleased  with  your  choice." 

"  So,  after  giving  up  Buffalo,  and  all  its  attractions 
for  the  sake  of  being  near  you,  no  sooner  am  I  settled, 


176  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

than  you  form  a  plan  to  got  rid  of  me  again.  Pray,  is 
the  office  disagreeable,  or  the  smell  of  drugs,  or  do  you 
object  to  the  appearance  of  my  poor  patients  ?  " 

"Now,  John,  do  be  serious  for  a  moment,"  she  went 
on,  little  thinking  what  a  very  disappointed  companion 
she  had,  or  how  forced  was  his  pleasantry.  "  You  know 
mother  and  I  cannot  live  forever,  and  your  happiness  is 
something  to  us,  especially  when  we  consider  what  you 
have  done  to  secure  ours.  I  can  think  of  nothing  more 
delightful  than  for  you  to  be  happily  married  and  set- 
tled here  beside  us ;  if  the  house  should,  indeed,  prove 
too  small  for  your  mother  and  wife  together,  you 
know,  we  will  make  every  concession — a  wife  has  the 
first  claim." 

"  Yes,  I  know,  but  I  think  it  would  be  hard  in  me 
to  put  your  amiability  to  such  a  test,  for  I  ca^  assure 
you  that  there  is  no  house  in  the  county  large  enough 
to  contain  my  mother  and  Miss  Pauline  as  my  wife.  So 
put  all  ideas  of  that  connection  out  of  your  head." 

"  Why,  John,  what  has  poor  Pauline  done  to  you  ? 
You  are  prejudiced  against  her." 

"  Who  was  there  to  prejudice  me  against  her  ? 
Sister,  she  is  universally  admired." 

"  Well,  then,  what  is  the  trouble  ?  " 

"  Simply  this — I  don't  fancy  her  at  all,"  I  answered. 

"  I  am  sure  you  could  not  find  a  more  beautiful  girl, 
and  her  accomplishments  are  endless.  Then  her  man- 
ners are  perfection,  and  a  graceful  hostess  is  a  fine  ad- 
dition to  a  doctor's  house." 


DEFEAT.  177 

My  sister  took  my  hand  and  pressed  it  in  her  own 
for  a  few  moments,  as  if  collecting  courage  to  say 
something  still  stronger,  as  an  argument.  Presently 
she  commenced  again : 

"  John,  sometimes  when  I  sit  looking  at  you,  I  feel 
very  unhappy.  I  begin  to  think  that,  after  all,  we  have 
caused  the  sacrifice  of  your  happiness.  When  you  were 
young  you  had  to  struggle  for  yourself,  that  was  well 
enough ;  but  as  soon  as  you  were  able,  you  asked  me  to 
give  up  the  school,  and  trust  to  you  for  the  means  to 
furnish  mother  with  the  luxuries  it  secured  to  her.  I 
know  that  you  argued  mother's  failing  health,  but  I  can 
see  now  that  you  thought  of  my  strength,  and  need  of 
rest.  Do  not  be  angry  with  ine  if  I  tell  you  that,  on 
looking  back,  I  think  I  can  see  where  my  own  faults 
were,  i  should  never  have  given  up  my  independence 
unless  forced  to  do  so  by  circumstances.  In  doing  so  I 
became  a  burden  on  you,  and  the  effects  of  it  are  visible 
now.  In  your  unselfishness  you  deprived  yourself  of  the 
means  of  marrying,  and  gradually  overcame  your  own 
wishes  and  hopes.  After  all,  John,  it  is  false  pride  for  a 
sister  not  to  work  because  her  brother  can  support  her." 

I  kissed  away  my  sister's  tears  and  lifted  her  head 
that  I  might  look  into  her  honest,  fearless  eyes. 

"  Sister,"  I  said,  "  believe  me,  when  I  tell  you  that, 
as  far  as  money  is  concerned,  I  might  have  married  six 
years  ago.  Other  circumstances,  beyond  the  control  of 
means  and  position,  have  influenced  me.  Can  you  not 
trust  me  that  this  is  so  ? ': 
8* 


178  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

"  Yes,  John,  but  only  for  us  you  might  have  mar- 

| 

ried  twelve  years  ago.  Do  not  try  to  convince  me 
that  we  have  had  no  effect  upon  your  life.  If  only  I 
might  see  you  with  children  round  you,  loving  and 
happy,  and  a  wife  so  devoted  to  you,  that  she  might 
make  up  to  you,  with  her  love,  for  all  the  struggles  of 
your  early  life,  I  should  die  much  easier,  feeling  that 
the  mischief  was  repaired,  and  your  life  not  altogether 
wasted." 

"And  yet  I  was  instrumental  in  saving  Arabella 
Ferris,"  I  murmured,  almost  unconsciously. 

"Yes,  John,  but  she  was  a  mere  child,  and  you 
saved  her  for  another.  Even  her  old  gratitude  and 
devotion  are  fast  disappearing — they  are  completely 
replaced  by  her  love  for  Claude  Lecount." 

I  made  no  reply  to  my  sister's  last  observation,  not 
being  able  to  command  myself  sufficiently.  I  turned  to 
arrange  the  robes,  that  she  might  not  see  my  face,  and 
stopped  gladly  at  the  gate  of  a  house  where  I  was  ex- 
pected. The  •conversation  was  not  renewed  between  us 
after  I  rejoined  my  sister;  she  probably  thought  that  it 
was  distasteful  to  me.  It  did  give  rise  to  a  train  of 
thoughts  that  led  me  to  ask  myself  the  question,  "  What 
am  I  living  for?"  I  had  accomplished  the  objects  that 
I  had  set  before  me  when  starting  in  life.  I  had  suc- 
ceeded in  my  profession,  and  through  that  'success  had 
become  able  to  provide  liberally  for  my  mother  and 
sister.  My  work  was  no  longer  necessary  to  them.  If 
I  were  to  die,  they  could  only  miss  my  love  and  com- 


DEFEAT.  179 

panionship,  but  such  a  possibility  had  never  entered 
their  minds.  On  searching  deeper,  I  realized  that  my 
love  for  Miss  Ferris  had  been  for  many  years  the  domi- 
nant feeling,  influencing  all  my  thoughts  and  actions. 
If  my  hopes  of  possessing  her  were  destined  to  be  shat- 
tered, then  I  must  set  before  me  another  object,  capable 
of  demanding  all  my  talents  and  energies  for  its  attain- 
ment. I  must  confess,  however,  that  I  did  not  allow 
my  mind  to  dwell  on  the  possibility  of  such  a  necessity 
occurring.  I  am  afraid  that  I  was  too  fond  of  picturing 
to  myself  a  visionary  home,  in  which  Miss  Ferris  was 
the  central  object,  with  all  its  sweetest  attractions  and 
highest  influences  springing  from  her  presence  in»  it. 
To  such  a  home  I  should  never  weary  of  returning. 
Its  peace  and  brightness  would  dispel  my  anxiety  or 
gloominess  of  mind  caused  by  the  labors  of  the  day;  its 
love  would  serve  to  increase  that  spirit  of  charity  which 
a  doctor  should  possess  iu  a  high  degree. 

To  a  man  possessed  of  a  deep  mind  and  extended 
views  of  life,  added  to  a  warm  heart  and  quick  feelings, 
there  is  something  most  satisfactory  in  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  gains  an  insight  into  human  nature  such 
as  no  other  calling  can  afford.  He  sees  people  as  they 
are,  not  as  they  seem  to  be.  -In  sickness,  the  mask, 
worn  for  the  world,  is  for  the  time  cast  aside,  the  phy- 
sician reads  the  true  character  of  the  person  before  him. 
If,  at  times,  he  is  disheartened  and  appalled  by  the 
miseries  and  suffering  of  mind  and  body  disclosed  to 
him,  he 'is,  at  others,  softened  and  overcome  by  the  ex- 


180  DII.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

hibition  of  all  those  higher  and  holier  affections,  closely 
concealed  from  the  outside  observer,  but  revealed  to 
him  almost  unconsciously  when  called  forth  by  sorrow 
or  death.  If  he  speak  the  word  that  deals  despair  and 
agony  that  cannot  be  expressed,  does  he  not  also  whis- 
per of  hope  and  recovery  ?  Will  not  the  heart-felt  grasp 
of  the  patient's  hand,  and  the  smiles  that  denote  the 
gratitude  too  deep  for  words,  of  an  anxious  family, 
recompense  him  for  the  broken  rest,  the  exhausted 
strength,  and  the  weary,  throbbing  brain  ?  Surely  there 
is  something  noble  in  the  spending  of  one's  self,  that 
another  may  reap  the  benefit  and  rejoice. 

•I  rode  home  one  evening,  feeling  very  tired  and  very 
happy,  having  just  relieved  the  fears  of  a  mother  for  her 
only  child.  I  had  been  attending  the  boy  for  hours, 
and  the  cool  fresh  air  was  very  welcome  to  my  aching 
head  after  the  heated  atmosphere  of  the  sick-room.  It 
was  near  the  end  of  March,  and- 1  remembered  with 
pleasure  that  the  gay  season  was  over  in  New  York, 
and  indulged  myself  in  the  hope  that  with  the  spring- 
flowers  would  come  Miss  Ferris  to  enjoy  country  air 
and  scenery.  As  I  passed  Mrs.  Lecount's,  I  noticed  a 
boy  wheeling  a  barrow,  on  which  a  trunk  was  placed, 
up  the  path  toward  the  house ;  but  without  paying  any 
attention  to  the  circumstance  I  rode  on,  while  the  air- 
castle  I  was  building  assumed  immense  proportions. 

My  sister  was  seated  near  the  parlor  window,  and 
as  that  fact  generally  denoted  company,  I  went  into  the 
sitting-room  and  threw  myself  into  an  arm-chair  for  a 


DEFEAT.  181 

short  rest.  A  moment  or  so  afterward  the  hall  door 
was  shut,  and  my  sister  followed  me  and  stood  in  front 
of  my  chair,  her  eyes  on  my  face. 

"What  do  you  think  I  have  to  tell  you?  John, 
guess  the  news ;  but  then  you  would  never  think  of  it, 
although  it  don't  surprise  me.  Pauline  is  just  gone,  and 
Belle  is  going  to  be  married  in  a  few  months  ,•  Claude 
has  won  her  in  spite  of  all — " 

My  sister  suddenly  stopped,  and  threw  her  arms 
around  my  neck.  My  face  had  told  its  own  tale — my 
secret  was  mine  no  longer. 

"  Oh !  John,  John,  my  own  dear  brother,"  she  sobbed, 
"  that  I  should  hare  told  you  this,  that  I  should  help  to 
break  your  heart !  How  blind  I  have  been  !  Oh !  John, 
John,"  and  she  kissed  and  petted  me,  and  smoothed  the 
hair  from  my  face,  and  tried  to  comfort  me. 

"  Never  speak  of  this  again,"  I  said,  when  I  could 
command  my  voice.  . 

She  promised,  and  then  kindly  left  me.  For  a  few 
minutes  I  felt  stunned  ;  I  began  to  realize  how  much  I 
had  hoped  for,  and  counted  upon  in  spite  of  all  argu- 
ments and  appearances  to  the  contrary.  Had  I  not  been 
deceiving  myself  for  months,  refusing  to  accept  the  evi- 
dence of  her  indifference  to  me,  which  I  had  agreed 
upon,  and  proposed  myself.  Truly,  I  had  none  to  blame 
but  myself  for  the  bitterness  of  the  pain  caused  by  this 
sudden  announcement.  Still  the'  blow  was  all  the 
heavier,  and,  as  I  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  I  felt  a 
strong  desire  to  go  away  by  myself,  among  new  scenes 


182  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

and  interests,  where  I  might  overcome  by  degrees  the 
passion  in  which  henceforth  it  would  be  wicked  to  in- 
dulge— if  I  could  but  go,  without  the  cause  of  my  sud- 
den departure  being  suspected  by  any  one,  save  my 
sister.  I  feared  Miss  Pauline ;  my  pride  was  great,  even 
though  it  had  just  received  that  terrible  check.  If  I 
made  no  delay,  my  absence  might  not  excite  suspicion. 
To  remain  where  I  was,  and  hear  all  the  discussions 
which  would  naturally  follow  the  report  of  her  engage- 
ment ;  to  be  invited  to  her  wedding,  and  to  be  obliged 
to  attend  it,  with  bright  smiles  on  my  face,  congratula- 
tions on  my  lips,  and  with  an  aching  heart — the  mere 
thought  was  insupportable ;  I  trembled  at  the  vision  it 
brought  before  my  mind.  I  resolved  to  come  to  a  de- 
cision at  once,  while  pride  was  sustaining  me,  otherwise 
I  feared  the  actions  that  blinded  passion  might  attempt. 
For  years  I  had  been  comparing  the  workings  of  the 
two  systems  of  medicine,  allopathic  and  homoeopathic. 
I  had  been  trained  in  the  old  school,  and  had  imbibed 
all  the  prejudices  felt  by  its  faculties  against  the  argu- 
ments advanced  by  the  new  school  of  practitioners- 
Practical  experience  at  length  convinced  me  that  my 
prejudices  were  wrong,  and  that  a  reform  was  not  only 
needed,  but  was  actually  going  on,  quietly  but  surely, 
among  the  more  enlightened  members  of  the  old  system. 
Without  acknowledging  it — a  thing  they  were  unwill- 
ing to  do,  because  men  in  the  majority  don't  like  to  own 
that  they  are  in  error,  and  blind  to  reason — they  were 
mollifying  their  treatment  and  questioning  its  laws.  I 


DEFEAT.  183 

was  often  astonished  at  the  obstinacy  exhibited  by  some 
of  the  old  practitioners,  and  their  adherence  to  ideas 
long  since  abandoned  by  even  the  advocates  of  their 
o\vn  system.  They  spoke  in  glowing  terms  of  the  ad- 
vances made  of  late  years  in  the  various  arts  and 
sciences  with  which  they  had  nothing  whatever  to  do ; 
but  it  was  totally  impossible  to  convince  them  that  the 
science  of  medicine  was  capable  of  improvement.  As 
they  had  learned  it  they  practised  it,  and  argued  that 
the  mode  of  treatment  which  had  sufficed  human  nature 
thirty  or  forty  years  ago  was  quite  good  enough  for  the 
human  nature  of  the  present  day.  In  many  cases  they, 
when  called  to  attend  a  consultation,  either  thwarted  or 
completely  stopped,  by  their  narrow-minded  opinions, 
the  efforts  of  a  younger  and  more  progressive  colleague, 
I  had  once  been  called  to  consult  on  a  case  of  this 
kind,  and  the  barbarity  of  the  treatment  had  taught  me 
a  lesson  never  to  be  forgotten.  The  patient  was  a  mid- 
dle-aged man,  naturally  healthy,  not  inclined  to  con- 
sumption, and  not  suffering  from  any  chronic  disease. 
He  was  a  singer,  and,  as  far  as  I  could  learn,  of  an  easy 
temperament,  not  excitable  or  irritable,  and  possessed 
of  a  patient,  gentle,  uncomplaining  disposition.  Re- 
turning home  one  afternoon  from  a  long  rehearsal,  he 
was  caught  in  a  heavy  shower,  and  contracted  a  cold 
which  at  once  settled  on  his  lungs.  One  of  thesa  no.n- 
progressive  practitioners  was  called  in.  He  was  ac- 
cu-tomed  to  working  in  the  old  beaten  track,  without 
glancing  aside  to  the  right  or  left ;  and  merely  consider- 


184  DK.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

ing  the  case,  which  he  named  congestion  of  the  lungs, 
and  without  giving  a  thought  to  the  other  conditions  of 
the  patient's  constitution,  which  had  been  weakened  by 
excessive  practice,  he  ordered  the  most  severe  remedies. 

When  I  was  summoned,  the  patient  was  sinking 
rapidly.  Deprived  of  the  strength  with  which  to  battle 
against  the  disease,  from  the  effect  of  successive  cup- 
ping, bleeding,  and  leeching,  and  denied  all  nourish- 
ment  that  would  support  the  system,  he  was  then  past 
hope — reduced  to  this  pitiable  condition  by  the  prac- 
tice of  that  very  science  which  professed  to  relieve  suf- 
fering, not  to  increase  it ! 

For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  felt  disgusted  with  the 
profession  that  could  countenance  such  a  barbarous 
proceeding.  In  the  eyes  of  the  law,  and  of  the  medi- 
cal fraternity,  this  doctor  stood  clear  of  all  guilt.  He 
had  obeyed  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  books,  out  of 
which  he  had  learned  all  he  knew  of  medicine.  Those 
books  were  his  authority ;  he  followed  them  mechani- 
cally. Others  might  imbibe  new-fashioned  theories,  and 
use  the  gifts  bestowed  on  them  by  Providence,  in  com- 
bining practical  experience  with  the  knowledge  gained 
by  reading ;  such  ideas  were  to  him  and  to  all  like  him 
perfectly  ridiculous.  He  practised  medicine,  as  he  had 
studied  it,  by  routine.  His  heart  and  mind  had  nothing 
to  do  with  his  profession ;  it  was  a  mere  machine,  which, 
when  worked,  brought  him  in  his  daily  bread.  He  had 
spent  some  years  acquiring  the  little  he  knew  of  it ;  if 
that  little  would  carry  him  through  the  world,  he  was 


DEFEAT.  185 

satisfied.  His  diploma  gained,  he  was  no  longer  a  stu- 
dent ;  his  business  from  henceforth  was  to  exercise  what 
he  had  learned  to  the  best  advantage,  without  adding 
to  his  own  stock  of  knowledge.  The  experience  of  to- 
day taught  him  no  lesson  for  to-morrow.  In  a  word, 
he  had  mistaken  his  vocation.  There  are  many  through- 
out the  world  in  the  same  predicament ;  they  are  to  be 
found  among  all  trades  and  callings ;  but  in  the  med- 
ical profession  they  are  to  be  most  feared,  because  in 
that  they  are  permitted  to  injure  their  fellow-beings 
with  perfect  impunity. 

This  case,  which,  in  my  opinion,  was  licensed  mur- 
der, filled  me  with  a  desire  to  know  more  of  the  system 
which  insists  that  a  patient  requires  all  his  strength  to 
battle  with  disease,  and  ignores  depletion  except  in  ex- 
traordinary cases.  I  knew  that  the  European  hospitals, 
where  it  was  allowed  to  be  exercised,  would  afford  the 
best  opportunities  for  an  extended  insight  into  its  work- 
ings. I  might  judge  for  myself  in  testing  the  disad- 
vantages that  I  had  heard  urged  against  it. 

I  had  come  to  a  conclusion  when  the  tea-bell  rang, 
and  no  sooner  was  the  meal  over  than  I  electrified  my 
mother  and  startled  my  sister  by  announcing  that  I  was 
going  to  Europe.  As  my  sister  understood  me,  she  of- 
fered no  opposition,  and  rather  sided  with  me,  though 
quietly,  so  as  not  to  excite  suspicion,  as  I  met  and  over- 
threw my  mother's  arguments  against  my  proposed  trip. 

"  As  if  it  were  necessary  for  you  to  study  homoeo- 
pathy in  a  French  hospital,  John,  you  who  have  been 


186  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

so  successful  already !     If  you  have  new  theories,  why 
not  put  them  in  practice  here  at  home  ?  " 

"  Because  iny  theories  reduced  to  practice  would  be 
called  experiments.  I  may  find  them  in  successful  oper- 
ation where  I  propose  going." 

"  And  what  will  become  of  us  ?  Just  as  we  were 
beginning  to  feel  happy,  and,  as  it  were,  settled  for 
years ! " 

"Oh,  mother!"  broke  in  my  sister,  "only  begin- 
ning ?  Surely,  we  have  been  happy  all  our  life." 

"  Mother,  you  can  pack  up,  let  the  house,  and  see 
if  there  is  not  something  to  interest  you  and  sister  in 
the  Old  World." 

"  What !  at  my  time  of  life  ?  "  screamed  my  mother. 
"  No,  no,  John ;  we  will  stay  home  and  keep  the  fire  on 
the  hearth  for  you.  I  think  you  will  soon  grow  tired 
of  your  wanderings  in  search  of  theories." 

"  John  has  the  theories  with  him,"  said  my  sister ; 
"  he  wants  to  see  them  carried  into  practice." 

"  Well,  well,  theory  or  practice,  they're  all  the  same 
to  me  when  they  take  my  boy  from  me,  that  I  reckoned 
on  keeping  beside  me  all  my  life.  What  will  Mr.  Mas- 
ters say,  and  our  little  Belle  ?  Pauline  says  they  are 
arranging  the  marriage  already." 

My  sister  looked  at  me  sorrowfully. 

"  Are  they  ?  "  I  managed  to  murmur,  with  a  glance 
at  her  that  forbade  interruption. 

"  Yes ;  it  will  be  a  very  grand  affair.  Six  brides- 
maids— Pauline  and  Marie  amonsc  them.  WHite  and 


DEFEAT.  187 

pink  I  think  she  told  me.  The  young  couple  are  going 
to  their  own  house — Mr.  Masters  thinks  it  best  when 
there  is  money  enough.  He  is  looking  out  for  one  to 
buy  for  them,  and  Claude  is  in  partnership  with  Mr. 
Walker.  Pauline  says  they're  making  heaps  of  money. 
The  ceremony  will  be  at  Trinity  Chapel,  and  we  are  all 
expected  down  for  it.  Marie  and  Pauline  are  going  to 
New  York  next  week  to  help  with  the  preparations. 
You  never  saw  any  thing  like  the  joy  they  are  all  in. 
Pauline  says  that  Belle  is  perfectly  happy,  and  as  shy 
as  ever.  The  dear,  dear  child ;  what  a  lovely  bride 
she  will  make !  I  am  anxious  to  see  her.  I  hope  she 
will  be  happy ;  certainly  she  deserves  to  be,  consider- 
ing all  she  went  through  some  years  ago.  Come,  John, 
forget  your  theories,  and  promise  not  to  go  away  until 
after  Belle's  marriage.  She  would  be  dreadfully  disap- 
pointed if  you  were  not  there.  But,  of  course,  you  have 
no  idea  of  not  being  there." 

And,  as  if  the  matter  were  fully  determined,  my 
mother  drew  her  shawl  over  her  head,  and  went  down 
to  the  gate  to  meet  Mrs.  Lecount,  who  was  just  then 
stopping  her  horse,  at  it,  with  the  hope  of  another  dis 
cussion. 

"  What  torture  you  have  just  endured,  John,  and 
how  bravely  you  stood  it  out !  What  will  you  do  ?  " 
asked  my  sister,  putting  her  arm  round  my  neck. 

"  Go  as  quickly  as  I  can  arrange  matters  here  !  " 

"And  Mr.  Masters?  Oh!  John,  how  can  you  leave 
the  country  without  seeing  them  ?  " 


188  DB.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

"  I  intend  to  see  them.  I  must  stand  one  more  heart- 
ache, and  then  you  shall  admit  that  I  can  conquer  my- 
self; but  not  here,  where  every  thing  reminds  me  of 
her,  and  keeps  my  misery  fresh  before  my  sight.  Try 
and  convince  mother  that  I  am  determined,  and  find 
some  trace  of  the  silver  lining  in  this  cloud  that  will 
comfort  both  her  and  me." 

"  John,  it  may  take  years  for  us  to  see  that  lining ; 
at  present,  I  can't  find  it.  Mother's  happiness  is  dis- 
turbed, and  your  heart  almost  broken ;  but  you  know 
what  is  right,  and  I  feel  that  you  ought  to  go  away." 

The  next  morning  I  followed  my  mother  into  the 
kitchen,  and  while  she  tossed  up  eggs  and  beat  sugar, 
and  manufactured  a  cake,  I  urged  every  reason,  plausi- 
ble and  ridiculous,  that  I  could  think  of,  in  behalf  of  my 
trip.  At  last  I  noticed  that  one  argument  had  some 
effect  on  her.  When  I  mentioned  the  number  of  years 
that  I  had  been  working  and  studying,  with  but  few 
intervals  of  rest,  and  urged  the  incalculable  good  that 
travel  and  freedom  from  care  would  do  me,  not  to  speak 
of  the  years  such  a  change  might  add  to  my  life,  she 
stopped  her  work  and  sat  down  to  consider  this  new 
view  of  the  case.  The  result  was,  her  full  and  cordial 
consent,  and  I  went  to  work  at  my  preparations  with  a 
heart  very  much  lightened  of  care  on  her  account. 

By  a  few  skilful  retreats  I  escaped  an  interview  with 
Miss  Pauline,  feeling  myself  as  yet  unequal  to  it.  A 
week  after  her  departure  for  New  York,  I  called  to  bid 
her  family  farewell,  and,  in  view  of  making  my  vis-it  to 


DEFEAT.  189 

Europe  as  important  as  possible,  my  mother  and  sister 
accompanied  me  to  New  York  to  see  me  off.  I  had 
written  to  Mr.  Masters,  telling  him  my  intentions,  and 
leaving  him  to  communicate  them  to  the  family.  I 
had  planned  it  so  as  to  have  only  one  night  in  New 
York  to  spend  at  his  house,  feeling  that  my  courage 
and  pride  would  bear  no  more.  In  spite  of  my  deter- 
mination, I  felt  my  heart  beating  rapidly,  as  we  drove 
up  to  his  home,  and  discerned  several  figures  on  the 
balcony  and  at  the  door  ready  to  receive  us.  Shall  I 
confess  that  I  was  disappointed  when  I  found,  on  alight- 
ing from  the  carriage,  that  Miss  Ferris  was  not  among 
them  ?  As  we  reached  the  parlor  door,  Mr.  Masters 
began  apologizing  for  her  absence.  She  had  made  the 
engagement  before  they  knew  exactly  what  night  we 
would  arrive,  and  found  it  impossible  to  break  it.  Of 
course  we  accepted  the  excuse.  My  mother  and  sister 
explained  my  motives  to  the  ladies  present,  and  Mr. 
Masters  attacked  me  on  my  unkindness  in  not  staying 
for  Belle's  wedding.  I  parried  his  remarks,  conscious 
that  a  pair  of  dark  eyes  was  fixed  on  my  face.  How  I 
envied  my  brave  sister  her  coolness  and  self-command 
as  portions  of  her  conversation  reached  me  !  "  Poor 
John  has  worked  so  hard  for  years  !  I  begged  of  him 
to  think  of  this  trip,  and  it  must  do  him  good.  Last 
winter  he  had  such  a  hacking  'cough.  You  know  a 
doctor's  life  is  a  very  hard  one ;  obliged  to  be  out  at 
night  in  all  seasons  of  the  year."  These,  and  many 
more  of  such  remarks  reached  me,  as  I  listened  to  Mr. 


190  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

Masters  telling  his  kind-hearted,  thoughtful  arrange- 
ments for  the  happiness  of  the  young  couple.  As  he 
made  no  remarks  about  speculations,  and  talked  as  if 
Mr.  Lecount  were  engaged  wholly  in  his  legitimate 
business,  I  concluded  that  the  gentleman  had  given  up 
that  branch  of  money-making,  and  was  pleasing  Mr. 
Masters  by  his  quiet  attention  to  the  profession  of  which 
he  was  a  member. 

In  spite  of  my  own  wretchedness,  I  could  not  help 
feeling  pleased  at  the  evident  happiness  of  my  kind 
friends.  That  they  were  bound  up  in  their  adopted 
child,  and  concerned  in  every  thing  that  affected  her 
interest,  was  plain  to  all.  If  only  the  one  absorbing 
feeling  were  overcome,  how  contentedly  might  I  go 
away,  leaving  her  to  the  love  and  care  of  these  honest 
protectors !  Once  I  would  have  relinquished  all  hope 
of  ever  seeing  her  again,  for  the  certainty  tliat  she  was 
happy,  and  secure  from  her  cruel  stepmother ;  now,  I 
would  give  years  of  my  life  to  be  able  to  regain  that 
feeling,  seeing  that  she  was  in  the  position  I  had  then 
coveted  for  her. 

We  were  yet  conversing,  the  watchful  eyes  still 
searching  my  face,  which  I  knew  was  stony  and  impas- 
sive, in  spite  of  my  efforts  to  look  natural,  when  a  night- 
key  was  inserted  into  the  hall  door,  and  from  my  posi- 
tion I  saw  Miss  Ferris  enter  with  her  accepted  lover. 
As  she  stood  for  a  minute  under  the  brilliant  light  in 
the  hall,  her  whole  figure  and  face  impressed  me  with 
the  idea  that  a  great  change  had  been  effected  in  her, 


DEFEAT.  191 

whether  a  natural  one,  the  result  of  her  experience  of 
the  world  during  the  past  winter,  or  a  false  one,  forced 
upon  her  by  circumstances,  I  could  not  determine.  The 
air  of  perfect  self-possession,  and  the  immobility  of  the 
delicate  features  were  the  peculiarities  that  struck  me 
most,  and  I  began  to  feel  some  misgivings  as  to  her 
state  of  intense  happiness.  In  fact,  my  ideal  had  lost 
her  identity,  and  was  but  one  among  the  many  beauti- 
ful and'  apparently  worldly-minded  girls  so  frequently 
met  with  in  our  community. 

She  was  expensively  dressed  in  a  most  becoming 
style,  and  rustled  into  the  room,  holding  out  her  two 
hands  to  my  mother  and  sister,  and  uttering  some 
commonplace  exclamation,  expressive  of  her  pleasure 
at  seeing  them.  She  turned  to  me  in  exactly  the 
same  manner,  and  with  like  words  of  welcome,  but 
as  her  eyes  met  mine,  they  died  away  on  her  lips,  and  a 
faint  color  rose  to  her  cheeks. 

"  Let  me  take  your  bonnet,  Belle,"  said  Miss  Pauline, 
rising  hastily  and  coming  forward. 

Miss  Ferris  dropped  my  hand  as  if  startled,  and 
blushed  still  more  as  she  turned  away. 

"  Thank  you,  Pauline,"  she  murmured,  almost  in- ' 
audibly.      "  I  shall  run  up-stairs   with   it ;   no,   don't 
trouble  yourself" — for  Miss"  Pauline  would  have  fol- 
lowed her — and  she  left  the  room. 

This  little  by-play  had  passed  unnoticed  by  the  others 
present,  Mr.  Lecount  being  engaged  talking  to  my  sister 
and  mother,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masters  being  unsuspicious. 


192  DE.  WILMEE'B  LOVE. 

It  was  some  time  before  Miss  Ferris  reappeared, 
and  then  her  manner  was  nervous ;  her  face  also  showed 
traces  of  agitation.  I  believed  that  this  was  the  result 
of  meeting  me,  after  having  declined  my  offer,  an  act 
which  must  have  given  her  some  pain.  I  determined 
to  reassure  her,  not  liking  to  cause  her  gentle  nature  to 
feel  any  sorrow  or  self-blame  for  my  disappointment. 
I  assumed  a  gay,  talkative  manner,  and  succeeded  in 
deceiving  her.  She  resumed  the  quiet,  self-possessed 
air,  and  received  the  attentions  lavished  on  her  by  Mr. 
Lecount,  who  had  taken  his  place  beside  her,  with  a 
coolness  and  ease  remarkable  in  one  so  young.  Her 
winter  in  society  had  certainly  done  wonders  for  her, 
or,  perhaps,  she  owed  these  new  accomplishments  to  the 
teachings  of  Miss  Pauline.  Then  again,  it  struck  me 
that  she  felt  as  I  did,  and  thought  that  these  lover-like 
attentions  were  in  rather  bad  taste,  considering  our 
presence,  and  the  motives  which  had  brought  about  our 
visit. 

Her  manner  indicated  indifference  rather  than  bash- 
fulness  or  fondness,  and  at  times  she  turned  from  him 
with  a  wearied  look  in  the  soft  eyes,  to  hear  what  Mr. 
Masters  was  saying,  or  to  throw  a  faint  smile  to  my 
mother.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Claude  played  with  her  pretty 
hand,  on  one  finger  of  which  a  diamond  was  sparkling, 
twisted  the  soft  curls,  and  whispered  low-toned  remarks 
in  the  accustomed  way,  with  tender  glances  from  his 
fine  eyes  accompanying  them.  Had  'she  given  him  one 
answering  token  of  love,  he  would  have  driven  me  wild 


DEFEAT.  193 

with  jealousy,  but  her  generous,  pitying  heart  could  find 
no  pleasure  in  giving  me  fresh  pain. 

At  last  Mr.  Lecount  rose  to  take  leave,  and  Miss 
Ferris  gave  him  her  hand  quietly,  after  he  had  wished 
us  all  good-night  and  me  a  pleasant  voyage.  He  either 
did  not,  or  would  not  understand  her,  but  placing  his 
arm  round  her  waist,  drew  her  into  the  hall  and  de- 
tained her  some  time  at  the  door.  When  she  returned 
she  sat  down  on  the  sofa  between  my  mother  and  sister, 
and,  throwing  an  arm  round  each  with  some  of  her  old 
impetuosity,  asked  and  answered  questions  without 
number.  She  had  made  them  promise  to  stay  with  her 
a  week,  before  it  was  time  to  separate  for  the  night. 

The  next  morning  Miss  Pauline  was  in  the  dining- 
room  when  I  went  down,  alert  and  watchful.  Had  I 
wished  for  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  Miss  Ferris 
alone,  she  would  have  prevented  the  wish  being  grati- 
fied. However,  she  need  not  have  feared  me ;  I  had  no 
intention  of  trusting  myself  to  such  an  interview.  I 
firmly  believed  that  Miss  Ferris  had  told  of  my  letter  to 
her  friend,  not  being  able  to  account  in  any  other  way 
for  her  extreme  vigilance.  I  had  some  purchases  to 
make  in  the  city,  and  intended  leaving  the  house  after 
breakfast  with  Mr.  Masters,  it  being  understood  that 
my  mother  and  sister  would  meet  me  at  the  pier.  As 
I  was  bidding  Miss  Ferris  good-by,  Mr.  Masters  called 
out — 

"  You  will  see  them  again,  they  will  all  come  down 
to  the  ship  time  enough  to  inspect  your  quarters,  and 
9 


194:  DE.    WILMEfi's   LOVE. 

keep  up  your  spirits  till  the  last.  I  only  wish  you 
would  postpone  your  trip  until  after  Belle's  wedding, 
and  then  we  might  all  join  you,  and  have  a  good  time. 
Travelling  alone  is  dull  work." 

"  And  so  I  had  better  go  first,  and  be  ready  to  re- 
ceive you  all  when  you  come,  and  teach  you  the  lan- 
guage and  customs  of  the  country." 

My  sister  laughed,  and  I  ran  down  the  steps  and 
called  gayly  to  Mr.  Masters. 

We  had  transacted  our  business  and  reached  the 
ship  long  before  the  carriage  came  in  sight.  At  last, 
from  my  place  on  deck,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  my 
mother's  face,  and  we  joined  the  party  on  the  pier.  As 
I  had  anticipated,  Miss  Ferris  was  not  among  them. 
Mr.  Masters  expressed  his  astonishment.  Mrs.  Masters 
explained  that  Belle  could  not  find  courage  to  watch, 
the  ship  disappearing  that  carried  away  one  of  her  best 
friends. 

My  mother  said  that  Belle  was  crying  as  if  her 
heart  would  break  when  they  were  strapping  my  trunk 
on  the  carriage ;  and  that  Pauline  wished  to  come,  but 
could  not  possibly  leave  Belle  in  such  grief. 

"  Belle  has  not  been  like  her  old  self  lately,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Masters.  "  It  all  comes  of  being  in  love,  I 
suppose." 

As  my  sister  was  leaving  my  little  state-room,  I 
drew  her  back,  and  asked  what  caused  3Iiss  Ferris's 
grief. 

"  That  is  what  has  been  puzzling  me  ever  since  we 


DEFEAT.  195 

left  the  house.  After  her  indifference  last  night  I  hardly 
expected  such  a  scene.  She  threw  her  arms  around  my 
neck,  and  cried,  and  said  that  she  was  sorry  for  hav- 
ing been  so  cool  to  you,  and  you  her  best  friend.  She 
begged  me  to  tell. you  that  she  could  not  bear  to  see  you 
going  away,  and  that  she  would  pray  for  your  safe  re- 
turn. Altogether  she  is  the  most  unaccountable  girl  I 
ever  had  any  thing  to  do  with." 

"  She  is  sorry  for  me,"  I  thought,  as  we  joined  the 
rest  of  the  party.  A  few  moments  after,  I  was  leaning 
over  the  side  of  the  ship,  watching  the  dear  forms  fast 
becoming  more  and  more  indistinct  in  the  increasing 
distance. 


CHAPTER  VIH. 

THEEE     TEARS     AFTER. 

DURING  the  three  years  that  I  remained  in  Europe  I 
heard  very  few  details  of  what  was  taking  place  among 
the  people  in  whom  I  had  felt  so  much  interest.  My 
sister  was  either  ignorant  of  their  movements,  or  she 
was  purposely  silent  about  them.  I  inclined  toward  the 
latter  opinion,  and  never  made  any  but  general  inquiries 
when  I  mentioned  them  in  my  letters.  Mr.  Masters 
kept  up  an  irregular  correspondence  with  me  in  his  old 
happy  style,  and,  to  judge  from  his  way  of  alluding  to 
his  ward  and  her  husband,  every  thing  was  progressing 
in  the  most  satisfactory  manner. 

I  knew  that  the  young  couple  had  a  very  pretty 
house  in  New  York,  and  that  a  little  son  had  come  to 
them,  who,  according  to  Mr.  Masters,  far  exceeded  in 
beauty  and  intelligence  any  child  ever  before  born  into 
the  world.  Owing  to  these  reports  I  was  perfectly 
satisfied  of  the  complete  happiness  of  her  whom  I  had 
so  hopelessly  loved.  I  gave  my  whole  attention  to  the 
subject  the  study  of  which  I  had  set  before  me,  and 


THEEE   YEAES   AFTEK.  197 

with  the  most  satisfactory  results.  I  returned  home 
invigorated  and  light-hearted,  feeling  that  my  long  ab- 
sence had  done  me  an  incalculable  amount  of  good.  I 
had  gained  in  health  and  experience,  and  I  felt  a  strong 
desire  to  return  to  my  work  and  prosecute  it  with  more 
vigor  than  ever.  My  mother  and  sister  were  overjoyed 
at  my  arrival,  and  before  I  had  been  home  a  week  I 
was  as  well  informed  on  the  affairs  of  every  family  in 
the  place  as  one  who  had  never  been  absent  from  it  a  day. 

The  Lecounts,  both  at  home  and  in  New  York,  were 
acting  in  a  manner  totally  unaccountable  to  my  sister 
and  mother.  The  young  couple  had  never  been  in  the 
village  during  their  three  years  of  married  life.  My 
mother  and  sister  had  never  been  invited  to  stop  at 
their  house,  and  had  only  seen  them  occasionally,  when 
visiting  in  New  York  at  Mr.  Masters'. 

"  Perhaps  their  house  is  too  small  to  admit  of  vis- 
itors staying  over  night,"  I  urged,  rather  puzzled  at  the 
whole  affair,  so  utterly  contrary  to  young  Mrs.  Lecount's 
affectionate  disposition. 

"  The  house  is  a  very  large  one,  and  Belle  always 
has  one  or  two  of  the  family  from  here  stopping  with 
her.  Pauline  is  almost  a  fixture  there.  I  know  they 
entertain  other  company  at  the  same  time,  for  Mr. 
Masters  has  often  alluded  to  the  fact,  both  here  and  in 
his  own  house." 

"He  seems  to  think  they  are  rather  extravagant," 
remarked  my  mother. 

"  But  surely  you  have  been  in  the  house,  you  have 


198 


seen  Mrs.  Lecount  in  her  own  home.  Could  you  not 
judge  what  her  reason  might  be  for  neither  coming  here 
nor  asking  you  there  ?  " 

"  No,  I  could  not.  At  the  first  visit,  Pauline  was 
present  all  the  time.  She  is  one  of  the  family,  and  I 
suppose  had  a  perfect  right  to  receive  us  when  we 
called  ;  still  she  contrived  to  throw  a  restraint  over  us 
that  was  quite  inexplicable,  and  yet  decided.  Belle  has 
changed  somewhat ;  she  is  less  cordial,  more  dignified 
and  reticent,  than  you  can  imagine.  I  felt  so  chilled, 
that  I  called  her  Mrs.  Lecount  when  we  were  taking 
leave.  "Would  you  believe  it,  she  caught  my  hand,  and 
begged  of  me  not  to  do  so  again.  '  Call  me  Belle,'  she 
whispered,  as  she  kissed  me.  "We  were  alone  in  the 
hall.  I  put  my  arms  round  her,  and  she  shook  all  over; 
the  next  moment  Pauline  came  out  of  the  parlor,  where 
she  had  been  showing  some  flowers  to  mother,  and 
Belle  changed  again  instantly  to  the  cold,  dignified 
Mrs.  Lecount." 

"  When  did  that  happen  ? "  I  asked.  "  It  sounds 
strange ;  you  never  mentioned  it  to  me  in  your  letters." 

""Why  should  I?  It  would  do  you  no  good,  and 
besides,  Belle  did  not  appear  unhappy.  On  the  con- 
trary, she  was  surrounded  by  luxuries,  for  the  house  is 
perfect,  and  she  was  looking  very  handsome.  That  was 
about  six  months  after  her  marriage.  We  did  not  pay 
her  a  visit  again  until  after  her  child  was  born.  Mother 
and  I  went  down  expressly  to  see  her.  Mrs.  Lecount 
had  been  with  her  all  through,  and  Belle  told  us  that 


THREE   TEAKS   AFTEE.  199 

no  one  could  have  teen  kinder.  That  visit  was  a  very 
pleasant  one.  Mrs.  Lecount  left  us  with  Belle,  and  she 
was  more  like  her  old  self  in  her  manner.  She  was  so 
perfectly  happy  showing  us  the  baby !  Her  delight 
was  more  like  a  child's  over  a  pretty  new  doll  than  any 
thing  else.  Mother  was  afraid  she  would  let  the  little 
thing  fall,  or  injure  its  spine,  the  way  .she  was  playing 
with  it,  and  we  both  felt  relieved  when  the  nurse  came 
in  and  took  it  from  her.  She  talked  then  of  coming 
up  here  as  soon  as  she  was  strong,  but  she  never  did, 
and  that  was  two  years  ago.  We  have  only  seen 
her  once  since  then,  and  under  the  circumstances  we 
could  not  ask  her  true  reason  for  never  visitinsc  us. 

O 

Mr.  Masters  gave  a  large  dinner  party  on  the  anniver- 
sary of  his  wedding-day — the  thirty-fifth,  I  think — and 
we  went  down  for  it.  Of  course,  we  expected  to  see 
Belle  that  day  before  dinner,  but  she  did  not  come  in 
until  it  was  nearly  over.  Claude  made  some  excuse  for 
their  late  appearance,  and  I  was  struck  by  the  curious 
way  in  which  they  acted  toward  each  other.  Pauline 
was  not  present;  I  forget  what  prevented  her  accepting 
the  invitation.  Belle  was  pleasant  and  talkative,  but 
not  inclined  to  be  confidential,  and  she  was  so  sur- 
rounded by  admirers,  that  I  found  little  opportunity  to 
speak  to  her.  Both  she  and  Claude  looked  remarkably 
handsome  that  night,  and  they  attracted  universal  at- 
tention. Belle  asked  us  to  call  the  next  day,  and 
after  she  was  gone,  mother  said  to  Mrs.  Masters  that 
she  thought  there  was  something  wrong  between  the 


200  DK.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

young  people.  Mrs.  Masters  said,  not  at  all,  that  Belle 
hated  demonstrations  before  strangers,  and  would  not 
permit  them.  As  it  was  the  first  time  I  had  seen  them 
together  since  their  marriage,  I  concluded  they  were 
very  happy,  as  Mrs.  Masters  thought  so,  and  she,  of 
course,  had  plenty  of  opportunities  for  judging  them." 

"  Did  you  call  the  next  day  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  but  we  did  not  see  Belle.  Pauline  received 
us,  and  excused  her.  She  had  a  terrible  headache,  and 
could  not  bear  the  least  sound  in  the  room.  We  asked 
to  see  the  baby,  but  he  was  out  with  his  nurse;  so  we 
left  our  love  for  her,  and  started  for  home  that  night. 
We  have  not  seen  Belle  since." 

I  commenced  walking  up  and  down  the  room. 

"Now,  John,  please  don't  go  to  work  and  worry 
yourself  about  Belle's  happiness.  If  you  do,  I  shall  feel 
sorry  for  having  remembered  and  told  you  all  these 
things.  I  never  wrote  them  to  you,  because  I  wanted  to 
give  you  time  to  forget  all  your  old  troubles.  Mother 
thinks  it  a  good  sign  when  the  new  friends  have  super- 
eeded  the  old ;  although  it  is  not  pleasant  to  be  forgot- 
ten so  entirely.  However,  they  are  young,  and  may 
find  more  congenial  companions  than  two  old  women, 
shut  up  in  a  country  village,  and  totally  ignorant  of  the 
latest  fashions  and  the  new  amusements.  I  used  to  pic- 
ture to  myself  Belle  on  a  visit  to  us,  occupying  her  old 
room,  and  going  over  the  old  pleasures  that  served  to 
entertain  her  when  society  and  its  charms  were  unknown 
and  uncared  foi\  Pauline,  when  she  does  come  to  see  us, 


THEEE  YEAES  AFTER.  201 

always  dispels  my  illusions  by  describing  Belle  as  she 
lives  now,  surrounded  with  company,  and  taking  her 
part  in  every  gayety  that  is  planned  or  thought  of." 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  "  at  twenty-three  the  world  is  very 
bright,  and  particularly  so  for  those  who  have  the  means 
to  enjoy  it.  We  must  not  be  severe  on  Mrs.  Lecount. 
She  feels  these  pleasures  the  more  for  having  been  de- 
barred of  them  so  long."  • 

"  Yes,  and  then  nothing  is  too  extravagant  for  the 
family  she  has  married  into.  They  uphold  her  in  things 
that  her  own  judgment  would  disapprove.  You  will  be 
astonished  when  you  see  the  old  house.  It  has  been  re- 
paired and  refitted  from  top  to  bottom.  Of  course,  we 
know  where  the  money  came  from,  and  they  even  tell 
us  that  Belle  loves  the  old  place  so  dearly,  that  she  in- 
sisted on  having  it  put  in  order  at  her  own  expense,  and 
refused  to  consider  the  money  they  expended  as  a  loan." 

"And  yet  she  has  not  visited  it  since  she  was  mar- 
ried ?  " 

"  No,  but  then  Belle  is  generous  enough  to  do  that 
and  more  for  the  comfort  of  others,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  that  the  old  people  will  thank  her  every  day  for 
what  she  has  done  for  them." 

"  She  is  a  warm-hearted,  good  little  girl,"  said  my 
mother,  coming  in,  "  if  she  does  seem  to  have  forgotten 
iis ;  and  I  am  almost  sure  that  there  is  something  at  the 
bottom  of  all  this,  and  that  we  will  find  out  what  it  is, 
if  we  have  patience." 

This  conversation  had  been  the  result  of  my  inviting 
0* 


202  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

the  two  ladies  who  composed  my  family  to  call  with  me 
on  Mrs.  Lecount.  They  both  demurred,  feeling  ag- 
grieved with  the  whole  set.  They  had  paid  the  last 
visit,  and  anyhow  it  was  the  Lecounts'  place  to  call  on 
me.  I  had  no  great  desire  to  see  the  family,  and  so  the 
weeks  passed  over,  until  I  had  been  back  a  month  with- 
out meeting  one  of  them. 

One  afternoon,  as  I  was  riding  home,  I  came  upon  a 
strange  figure  of  a  female  Avalking  along  the  grass  by 
the  roadside.  Her  curious  costume  was  not  new  to  me ; 
I  had  seen  numberless  women  dressed  in  the  same  style 
in  Europe,  but  she  looked  quite  remarkable  and  out  of 
place  when  met  on  a  country  road  in  the  United  States. 
As  I  expected,  when  I  drew  closer,  I  found  that  she  was 
a  young,  bright-looking  French  girl,  with  rosy  cheeks, 
q,nd  dark  hair,  half  hidden  under  her  stiff  white  cap. 
Walking  before  her,  and  supported  by  an  embroidered 
strap  that  she  held  in  her  hands,  was  a  pretty  boy,  about 
two  years  of  age.  His  hair  fell  on  his  neck  in  a  shower 
of  golden  curls,  and  as  I  passed  he  raised  his  head  and 
disclosed  a  pair  of  soft  brown  eyes  shaded  by  long  dark 
lashes.  The  hojrse  attracted  his  attention,  and  he  point- 

_ 

ed  at  it,  and  then  turned  to  his  nurse,  about  to  cry. 

"  Does  it  frighten  him  ?  "  I  asked,  stopping  short  in 
the  road. 

"  No,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  in  very  good  English ; 
"but  he  wants  to  get  on  it.  His  father  often  rides  him 
up  and  down  the  street. 

"  Let  me  take  him,"  I  said,  and  she  lifted  him  up  to 


THREE   YEARS   AFTEK.  203 

rae,  while  he  laughed  and  clapped  his  hands  in  glee. 
He  patted  the  horse,  and  played  with  its  long  mane, 
shaking  it  in  front  of  the  animal's  eyes  and  leaning  over 
it  fearlessly,  while  the  nurse  walked  along,  holding  the 
long  band  which  was  still  fastened  around  his  waist. 

"  What  is  his  name  ?  "  I  asked,  at  last,  wondering 
where  the  child  could  belong. 

"  Charles  Arthur  Lecount,"  was  the  quick  answer, 
the  last  names  pronounced  with  a  strong  French  accent. 

For  a  moment  I  felt  giddy,  like  one  in  a  vivid 
dream ;  then,  as  thought  returned,  I  understood  the 
meaning  of  the  child's  appearance. 

"  You  are  from  New  York  ?  "  I  said. 

"  Monsieur  is  quite  right.  Madame  not  find  herself 
very  well,  and  we  all  come  here." 

I  asked  no  more  questions,  and  when  we  reached 
Mrs.  Lecount's  gate,  she  stopped  and  took  the  little  boy 
down,  but  not  without  a  great  deal  of  coaxing  and 
promises  of  sugar-plums.  She  spoke  to  the  child  in 
French,  and  held  him  up  inside  the  gate  to  bid  the 
kind  gentleman  "  good-by,"  which  he  did  in  his  child- 
ish way,  kissing  his  little  fat  hand  to. me,  and  waving 
his  cap. 

When  I  reached  home,  my  sister  was  waiting  for  me 
at  the  gate,  her  face  bright  with  joy. 

"  I  know  all  about  it ! "  I  cried  out. 

"  What  do  you  know  ?  " 

"Mrs.  Lecount  is  here,"  I  answered,  gayly. 

"  Yes,  that  is  it ;  did  you  see  her  ?  " 


204  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

"  No ;  I  met  with  an  adventure,  in  which  I  made 
the  acquaintance  of  her  little  son  and  his  nurse.  What 
have  you  heard  ?  " 

"  Why,  Pauline  ran  over  to  tell  us,  and  was  more 
astonished  than  we  were  when  she  heard  that  you  were 
home.  Your  letter  must  have  gone  astray.  However, 
they  are  all  here,  that  is,  all  but  Claude  ;  he  had  busi- 
ness to  attend  to,  and  so  Belle  started  with  Pauline  and 
the  baby  and  servants.  She  wasn't  at  all  well,  and  the 
doctor  there  told  Claude  to  send  her  inland,  in  prefer- 
ence to  a  watering-place.  Pauline  says  that  Belle  cried 
to  come  here,  and  so  Claude  allowed  her  to,  but  she 
wanted  to  spend  the  summer  at  Newport  or  Cape  May, 
of  course ;  she  wouldn't  be  Pauline  Lecount  if  she 
wished  any  thing  else." 

"  Don't  get  so  warm,"  I  said,  patting  my  sister's  hand. 

"  Warm,  indeed  !  I  don't  see  how  I  can  help  grow- 
ing hot,  when  I  hear  of  such  things.  The  idea  of  Pau- 
line dictating  where  Belle  should  go  for  the  summer, 
and  Belle  having  to  cry  before  they  would  allow  her 
to  come  where  she  might  see  her  old  friends !  It  is  well 
they  did  not  know  of  your  return,  or  she  might  have 
cried  in  vain.  I  am  sure  our  living  here  has  something 
to  do  with  the  matter,  in  spite  of  Pauline's  warmth  and 
friendship." 

"  Very  probably  it  has ;  but  we  can  do  no  good 
either  to  ourselves  or  Mrs.  Lecount  by  quarrelling  now. 
The  mischief  is  done,  and  we  had  better  be  friends  if 
that  is  possible." 


THKEE   TEAKS   AFTEK.  205 

'*  Oh  !  there  is  no  danger  of  them ;  they  are  too  pol- 
itic to  say  any  thing  against  us  to  Belle.  We  shall 
always  be  friends  on  the  surface." 

"  Then  let  us  search  no  deeper.  For  Belle's  sake 
we  will  avoid  all  unpleasantness." 

"  Yes,  John,  you  have  always  considered  her  happi- 
ness, and  I  suppose  you  always  will." 

"  As  long  as  I  live,"  I  answered. 

My  sister  bent  her  head  for  a  moment  to  kiss  my 
hand  that  held  hers ;  and  then,  shaking  the  tears  from 
her  eyes,  she  called  out  to  me,  in  a. gay  tone  of  voice, 
as  I  rode  off,  to  make  haste,  for  the  tea  was  nearly  cold. 

About  three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  my  sister 
awakened  me  with  the  words — 

"  John,  you  are  sent  for.  Victor  Lecount  is  down- 
stairs." 

"  Well !  who  wants  me  ?  what  is  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Belle's  child  is  in  convulsions,  and  they  are  all  ter- 
rified out  of  their  senses." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  come  over  as  soon  as  you 
can,"  I  said,  as  I  hurriedly  threw  on  my  clothes.  I 
found  Victor  waiting  for  me,  and  together  we  hastened 
down  the  road,  while  he  told  me  all  he  knew  about 
what  had  happened.  It  didn't  amount  to  much ;  the 
child  had  been  restless  in  the  early  part  of  the  night, 
and  its  mother  had  insisted  on  sitting  up  to  watch  him. 
.  Shortly  after  two  o'clock  he  had  been  seized  with  a  con- 
vulsion, and  his  mother,  in  her  fright,  had  roused  the 
house  with  screams  that  he  was  dying.  Her  terror  was 


206  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

natural,  as  she  had  never  witnessed  such  a  sight  before, 
and  Victor  had  hurried  off  to  me.  The  worst  part  of 
it  all  was  that  Mrs.  Lecount  was  confined  to  her  Ibed 
with  rheumatism,  and  wholly  unable  to  render  her  grand- 
child any  assistance  except  by  giving  orders,  which  the 
girls  were  too  frightened  to  carry  out  properly. 

I  found  the  house  in  a  state  of  hopeless  confusion. 
Young  Mrs.  Lecount  was  sitting  on  a  low  chair  with 
her  baby  in  her  arms,  watching  with  dilated  eyes  the 
convulsive  movements  of  the  small,  waxen  limbs.  Pau- 
line and  Marie  were  standing  near  her,  begging  of  her 
to  put  the  child  on  the  bed,  and  declaring  that  she  was 
making  him  worse  by  holding  him  so  tightly.  The  ser- 
vants had  lit  every  lamp  in  the  house,  and  then  col- 
lected in  a  group,  to  exchange  opinions.  Mr.  Lecount 
was  scolding  the  French  girl,  and  demanding  what  she 
had  done  to  his  grandchild ;  while  the  poor  creature 
sobbed,  and  shook,  and  declared  in  loud  tones,  and  with 
many  gestures,  that  she  had  done  nothing  to  hurt  him. 
The  only  silent  ones  in  the  room  were  the  tearless  young 
mother  and  the  suffering  child. 

"  Send  those  servants  to  make  a  fire,  and  get  a  warm 
bath  ready  at  once,"  I  said  to  Miss  Pauline  the  moment 
I  had  glanced  round  the  room  and  taken  in  the  state 
of  affairs. 

The  servants  disappeared  with  Miss  Marie  to  see 
that  the  order  was  obeyed,  and  comparative  silence 
succeeded  their  departure. 

Mrs.  Lccouut,  roused  by  the  sound   of  my  voice, 


THREE   TEAKS   AFTER.  207 

stirred  slightly,  and  looked  up  in  my  face,  as  I  bent 
over  the  child,  Avith  a  dumb  misery  in  every  feature 
that  went  to  my  heart.  I  saw,  in  a  single  glance,  the 
change  in  her ;  she  was  thin  and  worn,  and  her  voice 
had  acquired  a  sadness  of  tone  that  startled  me. 

"  My  only  hope,  my  only  comfort !  "  she  murmured, 
as  I  still  watched  him. 

"  Let  me  take  him,"  I  said. 

For  a  moment  she  clasped  him  tighter,  and  a  wild 
look  came  in  her  eyes,  then,  as  a  softer  expression 
dawned  on  her  face,  she  held  him  toward  me,  saying : 

"  Yes,  you  will  do  right ;  you  know  best." 

''And  you  must  help  me — you  and  his  nurse.  If 
yon  will  be  strong  and  hopeful,  there  is  no  cause  for 
fear.  The  little  fellow  will  be  running  about  as  gay 
as  ever  in  a  week." 

My  words  had  the  desired  effect.  With  a  strong 
effort  she  regained  her  self-control,  and,  knowing  that 
it  would  satisfy  her,  I  called  upon  her  for  every  little 
assistance  that  was  necessary.  "What  a  change  a  few 
words  of  hope  had  effected !  This  young  mother,  whom 
I  had  found  sitting  cold  and  motionless,  watching,  as 
she  supposed,  her  child's  last  moments,  was  now  an  en- 
tirely different  creature,  moving  with  soft,  elastic  tread 
about  the  room,  anticipating  my  words,  and  looking  for 
happy  results  from  what  I  was  doing,  with  a  perfect 
confidence  in  my  skill  and  knowledge. 

When  at  last  the  child  opened  his  eyes  and  called 
"  mamma,"  in  a  faint,  .fretful  voice,  she  clasped  him  iu 


208  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

her  arms  with  a  joyful  cry,  while  the  expression  of  her 
face  was  in  itself  a  thanksgiving  more  powerful  than 
language  could  offer  up. 

She  paced  the  room  back  and  forth  for  some  time, 
trying  to  lull  the  child  to  sleep,  almost  indifferent,  in 
her  great  happiness,  to  what  was  taking  place  around 
her.  I  turned  and  spoke  to  Miss  Pauline  for  the  first 
time,  wishing  to  give  her  the  directions  what  to  do  in 
case  of  the  child  being  seized  again  during  my  absence. 
She  had  remained  in  the  room  all  the  time,  a  quiet  spec- 
tator, not  offering  either  advice  or  assistance,  for  which 
I  thanked  her,  feeling  sure  that  Mrs.  Lecount  preferred 
doing  every  thing  herself  for  her  own  child.  The  nurse 
had  gone  to  tell  the  baby's  grandmother  of  his  safety, 
and  her  low  tones  were  intended  for  me  alone. 

"  What  could  have  caused  all  this  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  There  are  various  reasons  for  it.  Do  you  know 
what  he  ate  yesterday  ?  " 

She  shrugged  her  pretty  shoulders,  and  a  rather  con- 
temptuous expression  came  over  her  face. 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  His  mother  and  his  nurse 
attend  to  that.  He  is  a  charming  child,"  she  went  on, 
afraid  that  she  had  lost  ground  in  my  opinion — "  a 
lovely  boy ;  only  we  all  fear  that  Belle  will  spoil  him. 
She  will  allow  no  one  but  his  father  to  interfere,  and, 
of  course,  a  man  occupied  with  business  cares  can't 
attend  to  the  forming  of  his  child's  disposition." 

"  Nor  is  it  necessary ;  the  child  had  better  be  left  to 
his  mother  for  some  years  to  come." 


THREE   TEAKS   AFTER.  209 

"  But  ho  is  so  passionate  he  is  wearing  Belle  out. 
We  are  all  anxious  about  her ;  she  is  far  from  strong." 

I  looked  for  a  moment  at  the  slight  figure  bending 
over  the  child,  now  sleeping  quietly  in  his  little  cradle. 

"  I  can't  think  it  any  thing  more  serious  than  a 
slight  loss  of  vigor,  caused  by  the  over- fatigue  and  late 
hours  of  a  gay  winter.  Mrs.  Lecount  will  regain  her 
strength  after  a  few  months  of  country  air  and  quiet." 

I  spoke  in  the  coldest,  most  indifferent  tones  possi- 
ble, aware  of  the  jealous  eyes  fixed  on  my  face,  and 
the  quick  ears  drinking  in  all  my  words. 

Mrs.  Lecount  joined  us. 

"  Do  you  think  he  is  quite  over  it  now  ?  "  she  asked, 
in  low  tones,  careful  of  disturbing  the  distant  sleeper. 

"  I  hope  so ;  I  have  given  Miss  Pauline  all  the  neces- 
sary directions  in  case  of  a  recurrence  of  these  attacks, 
and  I  shall  call  in  during  the  evening." 

"  Must  you  go  away  ? "  she  asked,  clasping  her 
hands. 

"  Yes,  the  necessity  is  imperative ;  but  I  don't  an- 
ticipate any  more  of  them.  '  He  is  very  much  weak- 
ened, and  I  should  like  to  ascertain  what  he  ate  yes- 
terday." 

Of  course  the  mother  knew,  and  she  named  over 
what  he  had  had,  but  they  were  all  perfectly  harmless. 
I  began  to  look  for  some  other  cause  for  his  sudden  ill- 
ness, when  my  eyes  fell  on  a  large  lemon,  half  hidden 
among  some  toys  that  were  scattered  over  the  sofa. 
Several  small  portions  of  the  rind  were  missing,  and 


210  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

the  rough  edges  round  the  holes  told  of  little  teeth 
having  been  at  work.  I  picked  it  up  hastily,  and  at 
that  moment  the  nurse  entered  the  room. 

"Did  the  baby  swallow  the  pieces  he  bit  out  of 
this  ?  "  I  asked,  holding  the  lemon  before  her. 

"  Yes,  he  did,  before  I  could  take  them  out  of  his 
mouth  ;  but,  surely,  monsieur  doesn't  think  that  such  a 
little  thing  would  hurt  him." 

"  It  has  nearly  killed  him,"  I  said ;  "  it  would  injure 
a  much  older  child  than  he  is.  Mrs.  Lecount,  you  must 
be  more  careful ;  such  playthings  are  totally  unneces- 
sary." 

"  Indeed,  I  didn't  give  it  to  him  ;  I  didn't  know  he 
had  it,"  Mrs.  Lecount  answered,  her  eyes  filling  with 
tears. 

"  Why,  no  !  "  said  the  nurse,  "  Mademoiselle  Pauline 
gave  it  to  him." 

Mrs.  Lecount  turned  to  her  with  a  reproachful  look 
in  her  soft  eyes  that  said  more  than  words. 

"  Well !  "  and  Mi^s  Pauline's  dark  eyes  grew  darker, 
while  the  color  rose  in  her  cheeks,  "  he  was  crying  for 
nothing,  and  I  gave  it  to  him  to  pacify  him  !  " 

"  Mademoiselle  forgets  she  slapped  his  hands  for  up- 
setting her  work-basket ;  he  never  cries  for  nothing  ;  " 
and  the  French  girl's  face  grew  crimson  with  indignation. 

Mrs.  Lecount  laid  her  hand  on  the  angry  girl's 
shoulder,  enforcing  silence,  and  then  turned  away  with 
a  deep  sigh.  Miss  Pauline  left  the  room,  darting  a 
threatening  look  at  the  nurse,  and  I  followed  the  moth- 


TIIKEE   TEAKS   AFTER.  211 

cr's  steps,  and  listened  for  a  few  minutes  to  the  child's 
gentle  breathing. 

"  I  think  he  will  do  well  now,  and  you  require  rest ; 
let  the  nurse  watch,  and  do  you  try  and  sleep." 

She  pressed  my  hand  and  assented  ;  but  I  felt  that 
she  did  not  trust  herself  to  speak,  lest  she  might  blame 
her  sister-in-law. 

"When  I  opened  the  door,  the  day  was  just  breaking. 
The  whole  scene  was  a  contrast  to  the  one  I  had  just 
quitted.  All  was  still  in  the  gray,  hazy  light ;  not  a 
sound  broke  the  silence  of  nature.  I  had  just  witnessed 
the  expression  of  nearly  all  the  passions  of  humanity, 
grief,  love,  joy,  jealousy,  and  anger.  A  few  hours  in  a 
sick-room  had  served  to  arouse  them  all  to  their  utmost 
extent.  The  calm  out  of  doors  was  very  acceptable, 
and  I  walked  slowly  down  the  lawn  enjoying  it.  I  no- 
ticed the  improvements  my  sister,  had  spoken  of.  The 
former  aspect  of  decay  had  disappeared ;  every  thing, 
from  the  garden-plants  to  the  new  weather-vane  on  the 
roof,  looked  trim  and  handsome.  There  was  an  air  of 
unostentatious  wealth  and  comfort  about  every  thing 
that  gave  a  charming  appearance  to  the  old  place. 

Three  years  had  done  wonders  for  many  in  the  way 
of  comfort  and  freedom  from  care ;  but  I  had  my  doubts 
whether,  after  all,  the  happiness  of  the  one  had  been 
effected  whose  welfare  should  have  been  the  uppermost 
thought  in  all  hearts.  As  I  walked  home,  I  pondered 
deeply  on  the  immense  influence  for  good  or  evil  that 
one  life  exerts  over  others.  I  looked  back  on  the  years 


212  DE.  WILHEE'S  LOVE. 

that  had  passed  since  I  first  saw  the  little  child  held  for 
the  last  time  in  her  dying  father's  arms.  How  strange 
the  after-events  which  the  young  life,  so  frail  and  un- 
certain, had  linked  together  in  one  strong  chain,  uniting 
such  opposite  interests,  and  binding  in  close  friendship 
so  many  antagonistic  natures !  Without  possessing  any 
remarkable  talent,  or  great  powers  of  mind ;  thrown, 
by  force  of  circumstances,  and  often  against  her  will, 
into  strange  positions  and  among  curious  people ;  and, 
having  no  self-proposed  aim  in  life,  she  had  yet  done 
more  good  than  many  who,  starting  without  her  disad- 
vantages, attempt  to  compass  by  dint  of  their  own 
strength  and  intellect  what  her  gentle  innocence  had 
unconsciously  effected. 

Her  childish  smile  had  exerted  an  influence  over  me 
beyond  the  power  of  words.  It  had  been  my  beacon-light 
for  years.  Her  helplessness  and  sad  suffering  had  called 
forth  my  deepest  feelings,  and  roused  all  my  energies 
in  her  defence.  Her  presence  and  love  had  increased 
her  guardian's  happiness,  and  brightened  my  mother's 
lonely  life.  Even  her  rejection  of  me  had  taught 
patience  and  resignation.  In  her  unselfish  generosity, 
she  was  forwarding  by  all  the  means  in  her  power  the 
happiness  of  her  husband's  family.  If  her  wealth 
brought  bodily  comforts,  her  gentle  forbearance  was 
softening  the  proud,  ambitious  hearts,  and  filling  them 
with  better  and  higher  aspirations. 

It  was  nearly  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  I  re- 
turned to  Mrs.  Lecount's.  My  Bister  was  in  the  parlor 


THEEE   YEAE8   AFTEE.  213 

with  the  family,  and,  from  the  merry  tones  that  reached 
my  ears  through  the  open  windows,  I  judged  that  the 
baby  was  much  better.  I  was  ushered  into  the  midst 
of  them  by  the  servant. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,  Doctor  Wilmer,"  Miss  Pau- 
line exclaimed.  "  Arthur  has  been  quite  lively  all  the 
afternoon,  but  nothing  that  we  can  say  will  satisfy 
Belle.  She  will  fret,  and  she  must  have  your  opinion 
before  she  will  believe  that  he  is  out  of  danger." 

"  She  was  asleep  when  I  went  up  last,"  said  Miss 
Marie ;  "  I  will  go  and  tell  her  you  are  here." 

"Belle  don't  appear  very  strong,"  said  my  sister. 
"I  hope  she  will  stay  with  us  all  summer.  Little 
Arthur  will  enjoy  it  so  much." 

"  I  can't  tell  how  it  will  be,"  answered  Miss  Pauline. 
"  Claude  had  not  decided  when  we  left  home.  I  expect 
him  up,  however,  either  to-night  or  to-morrow  morning. 
Perhaps  you  can  persuade  him  to  remain  here,  but  I 
know  he  had  a  wish  to  go  somewhere  in  Connecticut, 
lie  wanted  to  see  some  mills  there,  that  a  friend  of  his 
has  an  interest  in.  I  believe  it  would  be  a  very  good 
investment,  and  Claude  had  his  mind  nearly  made  up. 
However,  Mr.  Masters  insisted  that  he  should  go  there 
and  examine  every  thing  about  them  first.  Of  course, 
it  would  take  some  time,  and  the  place  is  very  pretty 
and  healthy,  so  that  Belle  and  Arthur  could  go  with 
him." 

"  So  Mr.  Lecount  is  not  over  his  love  of  speculation 
yet,"  I  thought,  on  my  way  up-stairs. 


214:  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

I  found  Mrs.  Lecount  sitting  at  the  open  window 
with  her  baby  in  her  arms,  and  the  nurse  building  a 
block-house  on  the  table  for  the  young  gentleman's 
amusement.  The  little  fellow  was  languid  and  dull, 
and  inclined  to  go  asleep,  which  he  did  in  a  few  minutes 
after,  with  his  head  on  his  mother's  shoulder,  its  bright 
rings  of  golden  hair  mingling  with  her  dark-  curls.  She 
was,  as  my  sister  had  told  me,  reserved  and  cold.  Once 
assured  of  her  child's  safety,  the  bright  light  died  out 
of  her  eyes,  and  the  life  and  enthusiasm  of  her  manner 
went  with  it.  Her  thoughts  all  centred  in  him;  her 
eyes  wandered  over  the  sleeping  form,  as  if  seeing 
nothing  beyond,  while  I  talked  to  her  on  indifferent  sub- 
jects, trying  to  arouse  something  of  her  old  interest 
and  curiosity. 

"You  have  not  been  out  of  the  house  to-day,"  I  said, 
noticing  her  pale  cheeks  and  drooping  figure. 

"  No,  I  could  not  leave  Arthur ;  he  wanted  me  with 
him  all  the  time." 

"  Trust  him  with  his  nurse  now,  and  go  out  for  a 
little  while  in  the  garden,  before  it  becomes  too  damp. 
You  must  consider  your  health  for  his  sake,  if  not  for 
your  own." 

To  my  surprise  she  rose  at  once,  put  the  child  in  his 
cradle,  and  drawing  a  shawl  hastily  out  of  a  box, 
wrapped  it  round  her,  with  a  slight  shiver,  and  walked 
to  the  door. 

"  You  are  very  obedient,"  I  said,  laughingly ;  "  and 
Arthur  is  so  well  that  I  shall  pay  him  no  more  doctor's 


TIIKEE   YEARS   AFTEE.  215 

visits.  Will  you  come  in  ?  "  I  asked,  as  we  reached  the 
parlor  door. 

"  No,  no,  I  shall  go  out  on  the  piazza  for  a  few 
minutes ;  don't  disturb  them,  I  prefer  being  alone." 

She  turned  away,  and  I  found  the  young  ladies  in 
the  midst  of  a  noisy  argument,  which  must  have  reached 
the  ears  of  the  silent  woman  pacing  up  and  down  the 
balcony  outside.  I  tried  to  stop  it,  but  found  the  effort 
almost  impossible.  The  subject  under  discussion  was, 
how  Belle  was  spoiling  her  child  by  injudicious  indul- 
gence, and  how  she  was  sacrificing  her  own  health  and 
comfort  in  humoring  his  whims.  As  I  knew  none  of  the 
merits  of  the  case,  I  could  offer  no  opinion,  though  called 
upon  to  do  so  by  Miss  Pauline.  The  conversation  had 
been  brought  about  by  Victor  declaring  that  Pauline 
was  in  fault  about  the  child's  sickness,  while  she  insisted 
that  the  whole  trouble  arose  from  his  being  allowed  to 
have  his  own  way  in  every  thing. 

"  It  is  just  the  same  in  New  York,"  she  concluded, 

• 

with  flashing  eyes,  and  in  an  excited  tone  of  voice, 
which  did  not  speak  well  for  her  temper.  "  The  whole 
house  must  give  way  to  him,  father,  mother,  servants 
and  alL  I  am  determined  that  he  shan't  rule  me. 
Claude  ought  to  take  him  in  hand ;  he  is  already  entirely 
beyond  his  mother's  control,  and  she  has  herself  to 
thank  for  it." 

I  don't  know  which  astonished  me  most,  Miss  Pau- 
line speaking  in  such  terms  of  young  Mrs.  Lecount  be- 
fore my  sister  and  me,  or  the  idea  that  a  boy  not  two 


216  DK.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

years  old  was  a  terror  to  all  around  him,  and  beyond 
the  management  and  influence  of  his  mother.  Nothing 
in  the  child's  appearance  could  warrant  such  an  asser- 
tion, and  I  suspected  that  Miss  Pauline's  wounded  feel- 
ings were  to  blame  for  her  thoughtless  speech. 

When  I  left  the  house,  Mrs.  Lecount  was  not  on  the 
piazza,  so  I  went  quickly  down  the  lawn  to  the  gate, 
presuming  that  she  had  returned  to  her  room.  I  was 
rather  surprised  to  find  her  near  the  end  of  the  path, 
where  it  branched  off  toward  an  old  summer-house 
covered  with  vines.  She  turned  to  meet  me  on  hearing 
my  steps,  and  I  saw  tears  glistening  in  her  eyes,  though 
she  tried  to  keep  her  face  in  shadow. 

"  You  see  how  hard  it  is,  Doctor  Wilmer,  to  please 
every  one."  She  attempted  a  gay  manner,  but  failed 
utterly. 

"  Then  you  heard — " 

"  Heard — I  came  down  this  far  that  I  might  hear  no 
more.  Thank  you  for  trying  to  turn  the  conversation 
to  a  more  interesting  subject.  If  you  only  knew  how 
tired  I  am  of  hearing  my  child's  faults  discussed,  and 
how  old  the  theme  is,  you  would  not  be  surprised  at  my 
taking  it  so  coolly.  At  first,  I  did  what  you  probably 
expected  to-night.  I  became  warm  and  excited,  and 
defended  myself  and  my  actions ;  now  I  take  no  part  in 
the  argument.  Mr.  Lecount  is  quite  willing  to  leave  the 
child  to  me,  and  I  am  responsible  to  no  other  person." 

"  I  was  more  astonished  at  Miss  Pauline's  want  of 
taste—" 


THEEE  TEAKS  AFTEE.  217 

"  Oh !  don't  misjudge  her.  She  means  no  harm. 
Custom  has  made  the  subject  so  common  that  I  am 
always  prepared  for  it,  no  matter  who  may  be  present. 
The  child  is  a  general  pet.  Pauline  is  really  very  fond 
of  him,  in  spite  of  all  she  says  against  him  ;  voluntarily 
she  would  not  hurt  him.  Now  and  then,  when  he  trou- 
bles her,  she  loses  her  temper  with  him.  I  am  sorry  Vic- 
.  tor  mentioned  the  affair  to  her.  Surely  the  sight  of  the 
little  creature's  sufferings  was  punishment  enough." 

'  The  noise  of  the  gate  opening  made  us  turn  in  that 
direction.  A  gentleman  in  a  slouched  hat  and  linen 
duster,  with  a  valise  in  his  hand,  was  coming  in.  His 
eyes  fell  on  us  instantly,  and  as  his  wife  started  forward, 
with  the  cry,  "  Why,  it  is  Claude ! "  his  features  darkened 
perceptibly.  She  saw  it,  and  the  words  of  welcome  died 
away  on  her  lips,  while  the  bright  color  rose  in  her  face. 
I  extended  my  hand,  but  Mr.  Lecount  drew  himself  up 
without  noticing  it,  and  looked  from  one  to  the  other 
with  an  angry  glare  in  his  eyes.  The  whole  scene  was 
unaccountable  to  me. 

"  What  brings  you  here,  sir  ?  "  was  his  salutation. 

His  wife  caught  his  arm,  her  eyes  dilating  and  bril- 
liant with  wounded  pride. 

"  Claude !  oh,  Claude !  Doctor  Wilmer  hasjust  saved 
Arthur's  life.  How  can  you  speak  so  to  him?  Our 
child  has  been  very  sick,"  and  the  tears  came  in  her  eyes 
while  she  trembled  with  weakness  and  fear.  Why 
should  she  be  afraid  of  him  ?  Yet  it  was  certainly  a 
sensation  of  dread  that  was  stealing  over  her,  creeping 
10 


218  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

into  her  eyes,  and  blanching  her  cheeks.  Her  husband 
shook  her  hand  off  roughly,  and  uttered  an  oath. 

"  What  did  I  know  of  Arthurs  sickness  ?  And  what 
has  it  to  do  with  all  this  anyhow  ?  But  no  doubt  you 
can  explain  the  affair  to  your  own  satisfaction,  if  not  to 
mine,"  he  said  rudely. 

Mrs.  Lecount  raised  her  head  and  looked  at  him  with 
an  expression  of  speechless  horror,  which  changed  to  one 
of  sorrowful  reproach.  The  same  idea  had  suddenly 
struck  both  of  us — Mr.  Lecount  was  not  quite  himself. 

She  held  out  her  hand  to  me,  without  making  any 
reply  to  his  last  remark. 

"  Doctor  Wilmer,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  forget 
all  this  for  my  sake.  Think  of  the  circumstances." 

Her  husband  caught  the  words. 

"  Don't  apologize  for  me,  madam ;  I  am  quite  capable 
of  arranging  my  own  affairs.  I  am  never  ashamed  of 
making  an  apology  where  it  is  due.  In  this  case  I  can 
see  no  necessity  for  one."  His  tone  was  sneering,  and 
affected  her  strangely. 

"Nor  do  I  ask  one,"  I  said ;  "  you  did  not  insult  me. 
If  Mrs.  Lecount  is  willing  to  overlook  what  has  passed, 
in  view  of  all  the  circumstances,  I  have  no  desire  to 
speak  or  think  of  it  again." 

He  turned  away  up  the  path  and  she  lingered  a  mo- 
ment -with  her  hand  pressed  tightly  over  her  heart,  be- 
fore following  him.  I  walked  home  with  a  new  subject 
for  meditation  before  me.  As  I  had  never  given  Mr. 
Lecount  cause  for  jealousy,  I  could  only  suppose  that 


THREE   YEAES   AFTER.  219 

she  had  acquainted  him  with  the  contents  of  my  letter. 
And  yet,  even  that  would  not  explain  his  brutal  rude- 
ness to  her.  In  marrying  him  she  had  fully  proved  her 
indifference  to  me,  and  rendered  all  suspicious  and  jeal- 
ousies on  his  part  totally  unjustifiable  and  contempt- 
ible. She  had  chosen  freely  and  fearlessly,  and  I  made 
up  my  mind  that  something  had  obscured  Mr.  Lecount's 
usual  good  sense  and  reasoning  powers.  When  my  sis- 
ter returned  a  few  hours  after,  I  was  afraid  to  ask  any 
questions,  but  there  were  none  needed. 

"  You  just  missed  Claude,"  she  began.  "  He  came 
in  a  little  after  you  left.  I  never  saw  him  look  so 
strange,  and  he  acted  and  talked  almost  wildly.  Pau- 
line, of  course,  gave  him  a  long  account  of  Arthur,  com- 
mencing at  the  very  beginning,  and  I  was  astonished  at 
the  little  effect  it  had  upon  him.  He  didn't  even  go  up 
to  see  Belle  all  the  evening.  Only  the  Lecounts  are 
such  temperate  men,  I  should  say  he  was  intoxicated." 

"  Perhaps  he  was,"  I  answered. 

"  Well,  it  is  not  improbable.  He  came  up  on  the 
cars,  and  of  course  a  very  little  of  the  wretched  stuff 
they  sell  'along  the  road  would  affect  him,  particularly 
if  he  were  unused  to  it." 

"  It  is  strange,"  I  said,  musingly ;  "  I  never  thought 
any  of  the  family  inclined  that  way." 

"  The  strangest  part  of  all  was,  that  he  was  so  cross 
and  quarrelsome.  Naturally,  he  is  always  good-tem- 
pered and  quiet." 

"  Three  or  four  years  in  New  York,  among  the  stock 


220  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

brokers,  don't  tend  to  make  a  man  more  amiable.  I 
think  it  has  an  opposite  influence." 

"  Well,  if  stocks  make  such  bears  of  men,  I  hope  you 
will  never  touch  them,  John." 

"  I  don't  think  I  will,"  I  replied,  laughing. 

"I  don't  know  what  you  are  laughing  at,  John.  I 
feel  in  any  thing  but  a  gay  mood.  When  I  went  up  to 
bid  Belle  good-by,  I  left  Claude  sitting  beside  Pauline, 
muttering  something  that  I  knew  she  didn't  want  me  to 
hear.  She  was  trying  to  stop  him  ;  but  just  as  I  passed, 
I  heard  him  say,  '  It  was  nothing  but  an  excuse  to  see 
the  handsome  doctor.'  Now,  I  should  like  to  know  his 
meaning.  He  looked  savage  enough,  and  she  put  her 
hand  over  his  mouth  and  affected  to  laugh,  as  if  he  had 
said  something  witty.  There  was  nothing  amusing 
about  his  appearance,  and  Belle — "  She  stopped,  as 
if  she  had  gone  too  far,  and  would  have  recalled  her 
words,  if  possible. 

"  Well,  what  about  her  ?  "  I  said,  for  my  sister  was 
folding  up  her  work  with  an  energy  quite  uncalled  for 
by  the  pieces  of  linen.  "  Come,  tell  me  what  you  mean ; 
don't  keep  me  in  suspense." 

"  Why,  when  I  went  into  the  room,  I  found  her  lying 
on  the  bed,  burning  with  fever,  and  her  hair  and  the 
pillow  damp  with  her  tears.  The  room  was  dark,  the 
lamp  turned  entirely  out,  and  at  first  I  thought  she  was 
asleep,  she  was  so  quiet.  However,  she  heard  my  steps 
and  called  out  to  me,  and  when  I  went  to  her  and  asked 
what  ailed  her,  she  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck  and 


THEEE   TEAE9   AFTEE.  221 

sobbed  as  if  her  heart  would  break.  Then  she  made 
me  promise  not  to  speak  of  it  down-stairs,  and  so  I 
lifted  her  baby  out  of  his  cradle,  and  put  him  in  her 
arms ;  and  then  I  had  to  go  back  and  speak  pleasantly 
to  the  others,  knowing  that  she  was  up  there  all  alone, 
and  in  trouble." 

"  Rather  a  hard  task  to  you,  my  impulsive  sister ; 
however,  at  times,  we  are  all  obliged  to  control  our 
hearts  and  tongues." 

"  That  is  true  ;  I  felt  like  telling  them  all,  and  him 
particularly,  that  they  were  breaking  her  heart  between 
them,  with  all  their  declarations  and  protestations  of 
love  for  her.  I  wish  I  had  now." 

"  And  I  am  delighted  that  you  did  not.  Whatever 
her  trouble  is,  she  wishes  to  keep  it  from  the  family, 
and  it  would  increase  her  misery  if  she  were  obliged  to 
answer  all  their  questions." 

"  I  wonder  could  it  be,  that  Claude  not  going  up  to 
see  her  made  her  unhappy?  He  may  have  thought  that 
she  should  have  run  down  to  welcome  him  in  her  old 
way.  Men  have  such  fancies !  But  even  if  she  did 
annoy  him,  he  shouldn't  have  been  indifferent  to  the 
child.  She  could  hardly  take  him  down  so  soon ;  and 
one  would  suppose  that  he  would  have  been  anxious  to 
see  Arthur.  No  doubt  they  both  felt  hurt,  and  of 
course  she  frets  the  most." 

"  Of  course ;  and  as  long  as  the  trouble  lies  between 
the  two,  the  less  the  family  know  about  it  the  better. 
No  doubt,  by  this  time,  they  have  forgotten  and  for- 


222 


given  the  whole  affair,  and  are  surprised  at  their  own 
foolishness  in  letting  such  a  little  thing  do  so  much 
mischief." 

"  Little  things  cause  all  the  unhappiness  in  the 
world.  They  reach  the  heart  quickest,  because  too 
small  to  be  noticed  by  any  but  the  one  that  loves. 
Straws  show  which  way  the  wind  blows,  and  no  doubt 
Claude's  indifference  to  his  child  was  more  painful  to 
Belle  than  his  disregard  of  her.  If  she  is  too  proud  to 
let  him  know  what  she  suffered,  he  will  feel  worse,  and 
accuse  her  of  still  greater  coldness.  Who  can  tell  what 
will  come  of  such  a  misunderstanding  ?  That  is  why  I 
approve  of  thunder-storms  in  the  family,  now  and  then ; 
they  clear  the  domestic  air.  They  often  do  good  by 
bringing  to  light  the  little  causes  that  arc  "apt  to  lead  to 
such  great  effects." 

"  Belle  is  too  truthful  to  allow  a  misunderstanding 
to  exist  for  any  length  of  time.  I  don't  think  you  need 
fear  for  her  domestic  happiness." 

My  sister  left  me,  quite  reassiired. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A     DINNEE-PAETT. 

THE  next  morning,  as  I  was  quitting  the  house,  I 
met  Victor  Lecount.  He  had  come  purposely  out  of  his 
way  to  leave  a  note  with  me,  which  contained  an  invi- 
tation to  dinner  for  the  following  day,  and  also  an  apol- 
ogy from  his  brother  for  what  had  occurred  the  night 
before.  Mr.  Lecount  gave  no  .reason  for  his  curious 
conduct,  no  doubt  considering  such  a  proceeding  as 
totally  beneath  him.  The  wording  of  the  message  was 
stiff  and  cold.  It  was  evidently  written  under  compul- 
sion. There  was  none  of  the  warmth  or  impulsiveness 
in  it  that  denotes  a  generous  spirit,  quick  to  acknowl- 
edge its  own  fault — it  was  merely  an  apology,  and 
nothing  more,  the  least  that  c6uld  be  offered.  I  turned 
back  to  give  my  sister  the  other  note,  wishing  very 
much  that  I  could  decline  the  invitation  it  contained. 
However,  I  had  no  real  excuse,  and  I  felt  that  my  ab- 
sence from  the  party  would  give  pain  to  Mrs.  Lecouut, 
as  she  would  naturally  conclude  that  I  had  not  accepted 
her  husband's  apology.  My  mother  and  sister  were  de- 
lighted with  the  idea.  Any  amusement  that  promised 


224  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

to  relieve  the  monotony  of  their  life  for  a  few  hours  was 
always  welcome.  I  left  them  discussing  the  never- 
failing  topic,  what  they  should  wear,  and  started  again 
on  my  long  round  of  visits. 

When  I  reached  home  that  evening,  I  found  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Masters  seated  comfortably  in  their  old  places,  and 
every  thing  looking  so  like  the  old  times,  that  I  could 
hardly  realize  the  changes  that  had  taken  place  since  I 
had  seen  them  last.  They  were  so  delighted  at  meet- 
ing me,  and  we  had  so  much  to  talk  about,  that  my  sis- 
ter concluded  we  would  sit  up  all  night.  However,  as 
they  had  come  up  for  the  dinner-party,  to  please  Mrs. 
Lecount,  and  intended  remaining  with  us  for  a  week, 
we  wished  each  other  a  reluctant  good-night  before 
twelve  o'clock.  Mr.  Masters  had  altered  very  much  in 
the  three  years.  He  was  careworn,  and  I  thought  pre- 
occupied, although  he  attempted  a  gay  manner,  which 
was  too  forced  to  be  like  his  own  old  one,  so  genial  and 
happy.  Several  times  during  the  evening  he  seemed 
about  to  tell  me  something ;  but  after  a  moment's  re- 
flection, in  which  he  would  brush  his  hair  back  ner- 
vously, a  favorite  motion  of  his  when  thinking,  he  would 
change  the  conversation  by  making  a  remark  wholly 
foreign  to  the  subject  under  discussion.  There  was  evi- 
dently something  on  his  mind  that  gave  him  much  un- 
easiness, and  I  at  once  cpnnected  it  with  his  ward  and 
her  affairs,  because,  strange  to  say,  neither  Mr.  nor  Mrs. 
Lecount  had  been  mentioned  that  evening  by  any  of  us. 

My  own  reasons  for  not  alluding  to  them  I  did  not 


A  DmNEE-PAETY.  225 

care  to  analyze,  but  Mr.  Masters'  silence  regarding  them 
was  curious ;  because  his  ward  and  her  happiness  had 
been  favorite  themes  with  him  for  years,  and  ones  that 
called  forth  all  his  eloquence,  and  his  best  and  deepest 
feelings.  Hitherto  I  had  shared  his  confidence  in  all 
matters  relating  to  her  and  her  welfare.  An  absence  of 
three  years  was  calculated  to  weaken  that  desire  of  his  to 
impart  to  me  all  his  thoughts  and  misgivings  concerning 
her.  He  could  hardly  suppose  that  my  interest  in  her 
affairs  was  as  deep  as  ever ;  it  was  natural  for  him  to 
believe  that  late  events  had  excluded  all  thought  of  her 
from  my  mind,  and  that  what  affected  her  was  a  matter 
of  perfect  indifference  to  me.  I  was  satisfied  that  he 
should  have  those  opinions.  I  disliked  the  mere  idea 
of  hearing  any  thing  that  might  weaken  my  belief  in  her 
present  happiness.  I  was  the  last  person  in  the  world 
to  whom  such  doubts  should  be  confided,  and  I  did  my 
best  to  keep  the  conversation  on  other  matters  at  break- 
fast the  next  morning.  Fortunately  for  me,  I  had  to 
leave  home  as  soon  as  the  meal  was  over,  and  I  begged 
of  them  to  go  without  me  to  Mrs.  Lecount's,  promising 
to  be  present  as  early  as  possible,  but  the  chances  were 
that  I  should  be  detained  beyond  the  dinner-hour. 

They  were  gone,  as  I  had  expected,  when  I  returned 
that  evening ;  so  I  made  my  toilet  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
and  started  to  jf  in  them.  The  party  assembled  in  the 
large  parlor  was  much  more  numerous  than  I  had  anti- 
cipated. Several  gentlemen,  strangers  to  me,  were 
standing  in  a  group  near  the  mantel-piece,  talking  and 
10* 


226  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

laughing  among  themselves,  without  paying  any  atten- 
tion to  the  other  persons  present.  Miss  Pauline,  look- 
ing brilliant  as  usual,  was  in  the  act  of  introducing 
another  to  my  sister.  Mr.  Masters  was  talking  to  Mrs. 
Lecount,  and  several  ladies  belonging  to  the  neighbor- 
hood were  scattered  through  the  room,  amusing  them- 
selves in  the  various  ways  customary  on  such  occasions. 
The  place  was  well  lighted,  the  ladies  in  full  dinner-dress, 
the  apartment  handsome  and  luxurious  in  its  new  fur- 
niture and  decorations.  Over  all  there  was  that  re- 
strained stiffness  which  generally  pervades  a  dinner- 
party before  dinner  is  announced.  This  evening  it  was 
especially  noticeable.  The  young  couple,  in  whose 
honor  the  party  was  given,  had  not  yet  made  their  ap- 
pearance. The  group  at  the  fireplace  seemed  all  in  all 
to  itself,  and  quite  adverse  to  becoming  sociable  with 
the  others  in  the  room.  Miss  Pauline,  though  talking 
and  laughing  with  her  usual  grace,  was  not  quite  at 
ease ;  I  could  detect  anxiety  in  the  restless  manner,  and 
the  quick  glances  thrown  now  and  then  in  the  direction 
of  the  staircase.  There  was  a  something,  not  to  be  ex- 
plained, that  affected  all  the  family,  in  spite  of  their 
gayety,  and  became  the  more  apparent  to  me  owing  to 
their  persistent  efforts  to  conceal  it.  I  was  so  well 
known  to  many  in  the  room,  that  I  only  waited  a  mo- 
ment for  an  introduction  to  the  strangers.  As  it  did 
not  take  place,  I  sat  down  near  Miss  Marie,  and  entered 
into  conversation  with  her. 

"  It  is  so  awkward,  Doctor  Wiltner,"  she  observed  ; 


A  DINNEK-PAETY.  227 

"  Claude  has  not  come  down  yet,  and  those  gentlemen 
are  strangers  to  us.  Pauline  was  alone  when  they  ar- 
rived, and  she  didn't  catch  their  names  distinctly  when 
they  announced  themselves.  I  begged  of  her  to  ask  for 
them  again,*and  introduce  them  to  us  properly,  but  she 
let  the  time  slip  over,  expecting  Claude  every  minute ; 
and  so  here  we  are  in  a  dilemma.  Mr.  Masters  is  not 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  them  to  be  of  any  use  in  the 
matter,  and  Pauline  is  so  distressed  that  I  pity  her." 

"  They  don't  appear  to  mind  the  awkwardness  of 
the  affair  themselves,"  I  answered,  as  a  general  laugh 
from  the  group  saluted  our  ears. 

"  No,  and  I  am  sure  I  am  very  glad  of  it.  They 
must  think  it  very  strange,  however,  and  Claude's  ab- 
sence is  worse  than  all." 

I  made  up  my  mind  that  "Claude's  absence"  was  the 
secret  of  Miss  Pauline's  strange  lack  of  self-possession. 
I  began  to  wish  as  heartily  as  any  one  for  his  appear- 
ance. It  was  long  past  the  dinner-hour,  and  every  one 
in  the  room  looked  prepared  for  the  sudden  develop- 
ment of  a  great  mystery.  At  last  a  rustling  sound  on 
the  stairs  drew  the  general  attention  in  that  direction, 
and  the  next  moment  Mr.  Lecount  entered,  with  his  wife 
leaning  on  his  arm.  Nothing  that  my  sister  had  told 
me,  of  the  curious  change  in  young  Mrs.  Lecount's 
manner  at  time^  prepared  me  for  such  a  transformation 
as  I  witnessed  that  night.  That  she  was  beautiful  no 
one  could  dispute,  but  to  me  such  beauty  only  caused 
pain.  Every  tinge  of  color  had  left  her  face ;  every  ex- 


228  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

pression  that  was  pleasing  was  gone.  Her  features 
were  set  and  rigid,  as  if  cut  in  marble,  and  there  was  a 
stony,  defiant  look  in  her  eyes  that  brought  back  to  my 
memory  visions  of  scenes  that  made  me  tremble.  Even 
the  dark,  heavy  silk  of  her  dress,  trailing  on  the  ground, 
gave  an  unnatural  height  to  her  figure,  and  the  absence 
of  all  the  usual  puffs  and  trimmings,  while  it  added  to 
her  dignity,  completely  removed  from  her  all  traces  of 
girlish  grace  and  youthfulness.  She  went  through  the 
introductions,  and  spoke  to  her  guests  in  a  manner  so 
polite  as  to  leave  no-  chance  for  complaint,  yet  so  cold 
and  distant  as  to  repel  all  ideas  of  familiarity  or  future 
friendship. 

Mr.  Lecount  talked  loudly,  and  laughed  gayly,  as  if 
to  make  up  for  his  wife's  coolness.  He  apologized  for 
their  late  appearance  in  an  off-hand,  careless  way,  and 
with  some  words  about  the  known  length  of  a  lady's 
toilet,  that  caused  a  general  exclamation,  and  some  gay 
sallies  in  reply.  Dinner  was  announced,  and  one  of  the 
gentlemen  offered  his  arm  to  Mrs.  Lecount.  She  took 
it,  with  a  slight  shudder,  as  if  disliking  the  contact,  and 
hearing  a  half-repressed  sigh  behind  me,  I  turned  to  find 
Mr.  Masters,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  her  face.  I  touched 
his  arm,  for  which  he  thanked  me  with  a  nod,  and  we 
took  our  places  at  the  table  as  careless  and  happy-look- 
ing as  any  in  the  room.  The  gentlqjnen  from  New 
York  ate  their  dinner  like  men  accustomed  to  enjoying 
that  meal.  There  was  a  gravity  and  premeditation 
about  all  they  did,  that  to  a  mere  looker-on  was  highly 


A.  DINNER-PAKTY.  229 

amusing.  They  spoke  but  little,  and  what  they  did 
say  was  addressed  principally  to  Mr.  Lecount,  and  was 
all  Greek  to  me.  I  observed,  however,  that  Mr.  Masters 
listened  attentively,  and  seemed  to  follow  them  in  their 
remarks.  Young  Mrs.  Lecount  was  seated  between 
two  of  them ;  one,  a  tall,  dignified-looking  man,  with  a 
bald  head,  and  spectacles,  paid  her  a  great  deal  of 
attention,  and  talked  fluently  on  various  subjects  of 
interest.  He  was  evidently  more  of  a  lady's-man 
than  the  others,  and  much  more  cultivated  in  his 
manners. 

While  they  talked  of  stocks  and  bonds  to  the  hus- 
band, he  conversed  on  the  topics  of  the  day  with  the 
wife.  She  listened  politely,  replying  now  and  then, 
when  required,  in  monosyllables.  Her  plates  were  re- 
moved almost  untouched,  and  I  detected  the  sigh  of 
relief  with  which  she  rose  from  the  table  when  the  long, 
formal  dinner  was  over.  The  ladies  gone,  the  gentle- 
men drew  their  chairs  together,  and,  filling  their  glasses, 
renewed  the  conversation  with  increased  vigor. 

I  learned  that  the  tall,  dignified  man  was  Mr.  Ham- 
mond. The  short,  stout  one,  who  had  sat  on  Mrs. 
Lecount's  left,  was  the  president  of  a  new  mining  com- 
pany. The  other  three,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Walker, 
were  thin,  sharp-looking  men,  with  overhanging  brows, 
compressed  lips,  and  a  certain  hard,  shrewd  expression 
in  their  eyes,  which  spoke  volumes.  Had  I  been  a 
speculator,  I  might  have  learned  much  of  the  inside 
machinery  set  in  motion  by  these  arrangers  of  joint- 


230  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

stock  companies.  As  it  was,  their  terms  and  expres- 
sions were  quite  new  to  me ;  and  I  looked  at  them,  and 
listened  to  their  schemes  for  making  money  rapidly, 
with  as  much  amazement  as  if  they  were  the  real  origi- 
nators of  the  designs  that  they  sought  to  carry  out  suc- 
cessfully. 

That  there  was  any  thing  but  money  worth  having 
in  the  world  seemed  a  most  preposterous  idea,  to  judge 
from  their  conversation.  They  spoke  of  thousands  and 
millions  in  the  same  tone  that  I  would  mention  tens 
and  hundreds  ;  and  it  did  appear  strange  that  I  should 
work  hard  for  years  in  order  to  amass  the  sum  that  they 
talked  of  realizing  by  the  operations  of  a  single  day. 
Still,  on  looking  at  their  hard,  careworn  faces,  out  of 
which  all  that  spoke  of  youth  and  feeling  had  entirely 
disappeared,  I  felt  that  I  would  not  be  willing  to  change 
places  with  one  of  them.  I  noticed  several  things  thsft 
evening,  although  it  was  some  time  afterward  when  I 
understood  their  full  meaning. 

Mr.  Lecount  seemed  irritable  and  restless.  He  filled 
his  glass  quite  often,  and  drank  in  a  careless,  hasty  way, 
as  "if  only  half  conscious  o£  Avhat  he  was  doing.  His 
father  had  left  the  room  to  attend  to  some  law  business, 
and  Victor  had  joined  the  ladies  in  the  parlor.  Mr. 
Masters  was  a  quiet,  observant  listener,  and  appeared 
to  be  weighing  well  every  word  that  wa§  littered,  and 
I  felt  a  conviction  that  his  presence  was  causing  Mr. 
Lecount's  uneasiness.  Meanwhile,  the  short,  stout  gen- 
tleman enjoyed  his  wine  and  the  dessert,  stopping  now 


A  DINNEB-PABTY.  231 

and  then  in  the  midst  of  a  story  to  crack  a  nut  or  put 
a  fig  in  his  mouth.  There  was  something  very  unpre- 
possessing about  his  face  and  in  his  manner.  I  disliked 
the  studied  laugh  with  which  he  ended  his  remarks,  and 
he  told  some  stories  that  were  not  only  coarse  in  them- 
selves, and  calculated  to  lower  a  man's  opinion  of 
women  in  general,  but,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  he  had 
just  been  introduced  to  the  wife  of  his  host,  were  cer- 
tainly in  the  very  worst  taste.  The  style  in  which 
he  told  them  added  to  their  unpleasantness,  and  I  felt  a 
great  desire  stealing  over  me  to  throw  him  out  of  the 
window  which  was  open  behind  him.  His  facetiousness 
and  levity  contrasted  well  with  the  gravity  and  bu- 
siness-like air  of  the  others.  They  laughed  at  his 
stories,  and  encouraged  him  to  proceed,  but  I  was  not 
much  astonished  when  I  heard  afterward  that  he  was  a 
mere  puppet  in  their  hands.  Mr.  Hammond  sipped  his 
wine  slowly,  and  built  little  pyramids  of  orange  seeds 
on  the  table-cloth,  casting  curious  glances  at  Mr. 
Masters,  and  making  but  few  remarks.  Now  and  then, 
when  referred  to  by  Mr.  Walker,  he  would  explain 
fluently  and  elegantly  the*properties  of  certain  kinds 
of  earth,  and  the  wealth  that  lay  hidden  in  them.  He 
knew  the  value  of  land  in  all  the  different  States,  and 
talked  so  well  and  learnedly  on  the  subject,  that  I  did 
not  wonder  at  the  influence  he  exerted  over  Mr.  Lecount. 
He  was  certainly  most  fascinating,  both  from  his  ex- 
tended knowledge,  and  the  graceful  manner  in  which 
he  dispensed  it.  He  was  a  fine  theorist.  Having  heard 


232  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

him  describe  how  fortunes  might  be  made  by  skilfully 
uniting  science  with  labor,  it  seemed  the  easiest  thing 
in  the  world  to  be  worth  millions. 

I  began  to  wonder  if  the  practice  of  his  superior 
knowledge  and  fine  theories  had  placed  him  in  the  pos- 
session of  unbounded  wealth.  Surely,  if  he  could  tell 
others  just  what  to  do  in  order  to  turn  every  thing  they 
touched  into  gold,  he  himself  must  be  a  perfect  Croesus. 
His  appearance  would  warrant  such  a  supposition.  His 
clothes  were  costly,  and  his  hands  white  and  soft  as  a 
woman's.  They  had  never  been  soiled  by  manual  la- 
bor— his  head  had  saved  them  from  such  a  necessity. 
I  felt  myself  sharing  in  the  general  admiration  that  he 
excited,  and  I  could  not  help  wishing  that  all  Mr.  Le- 
count's  friends  were  equally  gentlemanly  and  well-in- 
formed. That  any  one  could  associate  with  the  short, 
stout  gentleman,  whom  they  called  Phil,  and  not  be 
contaminated,  was  out  of  the  question.  I  feared  the 
effect  of  such  an  intercourse  on  a  character  like  Mr. 
Lecount's.  He  lost  dignity  in  the  companionship,  a  fact 
which  was  already  visible  when  we  rose  from  the  table. 
Mr.  Lecount  was  flushed  and  unsteady,  with  a  reckless, 
daring  expression  in  his  face,  and  an  unpleasant  glitter 
in  his  eyes. 

"  Come,  Phil !  "  he  shouted.  "  Come  into  the  par- 
lor, and  the  ladies  will  give  us  some  music." 

Happily,  Phil,  or  rather,  Mr.  Hunter,  to  give  him 
his  proper  name,  knew  more  of  his  own  condition  than 
Mr.  Lecount  did.  He  obstinately  refused  to  move,  so 


A   DINNEE-PAKTY.  233 

we  left  him  sitting  near  the  window,  with  the  pure, 
fresh  air  blowing  on  his  heated  face. 

"We  had  to  cross  the  broad  hall  to  reach  the  parlor, 
and  the  doors  being  all  wide  open,  I  caught  sight  of 
young  Mrs.  Lecount,  seated  near  one  of  the  windows. 
She  looked  up  quickly  on  hearing  our  steps  and  voices, 
and  Mr.  Masters  and  I  noticed  the  dull,  despairing  ex- 
pression that  settled  on  her  face  when  her  eyes  fell  on 
her  husband,  as  he  came  through  the  hall,  looking  quite 
wild,  and  switching  his  handkerchief  in  the  air.  "With 
an  exclamation  of  disgust  Mr.  Masters  turned  away  and 
went  out  through  the  open  door.  Mr.  Hammond  took 
a  seat  near  Mrs.  Lecount,  and  began  a  conversation  on 
the  new  opera  company  promised  to  them  in  the  fall. 
He  had  heard  several  of  the  singers  in  Europe,  and  he 
discussed  their  voices  and  styles,  described  their  rela- 
tive merits,  and  explained  their  chief  attractions,  using 
Numerous  musical  terms  in  Italian  with  the  ease  and 
fluency  of  an  old  manager.  Mrs.  Lecount  listened,  as- 
sented, and  disapproved,  while  he  gave  his  recollections 
of  Grisi  and  Mario,  compared  Formes  and  Amodio,  crit- 
icised Alboni,  and  lavished  encomiums  on  La  Grange. 
In  spite  of  his  powers  of  conversation  and  the  interest 
of  the  subject,  Mrs.  Lecount  often  made  absent-minded 
replies,  and  her  eyes  wandered  constantly  toward  her 
husband,  where  he  stood  talking  earnestly  to  Mr. 
"Walker  in  rather  loud  tones.  The  words  "fifty  per 
cent.,"  "  poor  stock,"  "  going  up  rapidly,"  "  none  in  the 
market,"  "  humbug,"  "  credit,"  fell  on  our  ears,  mingled 


234:  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

with  opinions  on  "  Norma,"  "  Belisario,"  "  Ernani,"  and 
other  operas,  in  the  low,  measured  tones  of  Mr.  Ham- 
mond. 

"  Claude,  will  you  never  become  tired  of  stocks  and 
bonds  ?  Do  come  here  and  tell  us  which  opera  you  pre- 
fer," Miss  Pauline  at  last  remarked,  with  a  significant 
glance  which  was  quite  unheeded  by  her  brother. 

"  I  am  so  fond  of  music !  will  you  favor  me  with 
some  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Hammond,  looking  at  Miss  Pauline. 

She  went  to  the  piano  and  played  an  air  with  bril- 
liant variations.  It  had  an  effect.  Mr.  Hammond  was 
bending  over  her  the  next  moment,  watching  her  slen- 
der fingers  as  they  touched  the  keys.  Stocks  were  for- 
gotten for  the  moment,  and  Mr.  Lecount  approached 
his  wife. 

"  I  want  you  to  sing  that  little  song  from  '  Mari- 
tafia,'  '  The  memory  of  the  past.'  Mr.  Hammond  was 
speaking  of  it  the  other  day." 

It  was  the  first  time  that  Mr.  Lecount  had  addressed 
his  wife  that  evening,  and  his  manner  of  doing  it  was 
rather  curious.  •  She  clasped  her  hands  and  looked  in 
his  face. 

"  Not  that  song ;  don't  ask  for  that  to-night,  Claude," 
she  said,  imploringly,  and  in  a  softened  tone  of  voice. 
For  the  moment  she  was  like  her  old  self. 

"  And  why  not  to-night  ?  What  is  there  in  that 
any  more  than  in  any  other  song,  noic  ?  They  avo  all 
alike.  I  hate  sentimentalism  !  " 

"  Then,  if  all  songs  are  alike,  I  shall  sing  something 


A   DINNEK-PARTY.  235 

else,"  Mrs.  Lecount  answered  coldly,  with  an  instant 
return  to  her  haughty  manner. 

"  You  will-  sing  what  I  asked  for  first,"  Mr.  Lecount 
said,  offering  his  arm.  .She  rose  and  walked  to  the 
piano  without  touching  it  or  looking  at  him.  Miss 
Pauline  made  room  for  her  smilingly,  and  every  one  in 
the  place  became  instantly  silent.  Mr.  Hammond  lis- 
tened with  astonishment  at  first,  which  gave  place  to 
admiration,  as  the  clear,  sweet  voice  filled  the  room. 
She  sang  with  an  expression  born  of  real  feeling,  and 
with  a  passionate  sadness  that  proved  to  me  the  pres- 
ence of  true  sorrow  in  her  heart. 

Mr.  Masters  had  entered  the  room,  attracted  by  the 
music,  and  Mr.  Hunter  also  appeared  on  the  scene. 
Mrs.  Lecount  sang  again  and  again  at  the  earnest  en- 
treaties of  Mr.  Hammond  and  her  husband's  requests, 
which  were,  in  reality,  commands.  It  was  a  late  hour 
when  the  party  broke  up,  and  Mr.  Masters  walked  home 
without  opening  his  lips,  a  very  bad  sign  with  him.  He 
took  his  lamp  and  nodded  good-night  to  us  in  the  same 
manner,  and  Mrs.  Masters  followed  him  with  an  expres- 
sive glance  and  a  sorrowful  shake  of  her  head.  Alto- 
gether it  was  the  most  curious  dinner-party  that  I  had 
ever  assisted  at,  and  had  signally  failed  in  giving  pleas- 
ure to  some  of  the  guests. 

"  Don't  tell  me  that  Belle  is  happy,  John ! "  said 
my  sister,  the  moment  my  mother  had  left  the  room. 
"  If  you  like  to  think  so,  you  may,  but  it  will  take  a 
great  deal  to  make  me  believe  it.  I  never  saw  any- 


236  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

body  so  changed  as  she  is ;  and  as  for  Claude,  if  that  is 
all  New  York  has  done  for  him,  he  might  Letter  have 
remained  at  home  here.  Mrs.  Hope  says  he  looks  ten 
years  older  than  he  did  when  he  was  here  last,  and  that 
was  just  before  his  marriage.  It  is  well  that  none  of 
the  neighbors  knew  much  about  Belle  ;  they  would  be 
more  astonished  at  the  alteration  in  her.  I  was  glad 
that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lecount  and  Marie  were  so  pleasant ; 
they  made  the  affair  go  off  well.  As  for  Pauline,  she 
was  nearly  crazy,  and  I  can't  wonder  at  it." 

"  Then  you  think  that  no  one  noticed  any  thing  odd 
about  young  Mr.  Lecount  and  his  wife  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  hear  any  remarks  of  that  kind.  They  all 
thought  Belle  very  beautiful  and  very  distant.  How- 
ever, they  seem  to  think  that  the  latter  quality  belongs 
to  city  people,  and  I  did  not  undeceive  them.  I  sup- 
pose you  know  that  the  gentlemen  are  all  going  away 
next  week  to  examine  some  water-power  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  Belle  has  to  go  along  with  them.  Claude  in- 
tends to  remain  there  two  months  at  least,  and  it  is 
decided  that  she  and  Arthur  will  stay  with  him." 

"  And  Miss  Pauline  ?  " 

"  Oh !  she  goes  too.  She  is  in  raptures  with  the 
place  already.  Mr.  Hammond  has  described  it  so  beau- 
tifully, they  anticipate  a  great  amount  of  pleasure.  It  is 
very  wild,  and  so  picturesque ;  just  the  place  for  pic- 
nics and  boating-parties." 

"  Mr.  Hammond  is  quite  fascinating,"  I  remarked. 

"  Yes ;  he  is  a  gentleman  as  far  as  we  can  see.    I 


A  DINNER-PAETY.  237 

wish  that  the  same  might  be  said  of  Mr.  Hunter.  Poor 
Belle  actually  shivered  when  he  took  her  hand  in  his. 
Imagine  having  to  spend  some  time  in  his  company,  and 
sit  down  to  dinner  with  him  every  day !  I  do  wonder 
where  Claude  makes  the  acquaintance  of  such  people." 

"  And  I  wonder  how  he  dares  to  introduce  them  to 
his  wife." 

"  That  is  a  fact.  If  I  were  Belle,  I  should  refuse  to 
receive  them." 

"  If  you  were  Belle,  you  might  discover  that  you 
couldn't  always  carry  out  your  own  ideas.  As  long  as 
she  remains  under  her  husband's  protection,  she  is  bound 
to  obey  him,  no  matter  what  the  effort  to  do  so  may 
cost  her.  The  fault  lies  with  him  altogether ;  he  has 
no  business  to  invite  such  men  to  his  house,  just  because 
it  is  his,  and  he  can  bring  whom  he  likes  into  it.  He 
should  respect  her  tastes ;  and  he  must  know  that  persons 
of  Mr.  Hunter's  stamp  are  entirely  beneath  her  notice." 

"  Well,  John,  it  all  comes  of  these  stocks  and  bonds. 
Mr.  Masters  says  he  cannot  help  meeting  with  these 
men  in  business  connections,  and  he  is  so  absorbed  in 
the  matter  that  he  is  not  satisfied  with  seeing  them  out 
of  doors,  but  must  have  them  home  in  the  evening.  No 
wonder  Belle  looks  changed ;  she  must  be  thoroughly 
tired  of  entertaining  speculators.  Claude  has  lost  his 
taste  for  music ;  she  has  hardly  a  new  song,  and  she 
don't  speak  as  if  she  visited  much.  I  can't  imagine  how 
she  amuses  herself,  unless  it  is  in  taking  care  of  Arthur, 
She  is  neither  old  enough  nor  worldly-minded  enough 


238  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

to  throw  herself  into  fashionable  amusements  as  other 
women  do  when  their  husbands  desert  their  society  for 
that  of  these  fascinating  stockholders.  She  is  just  the 
girl  to  place  all  her  affections  on  her  husband,  and  de- 
pend on  him  for  all  her  happiness.  If  he  fails  her,  she 
will  fret  and  mope ;  but  it  will  be  some  time  before  she 
undertakes  to  find  amusements  for  herself  that  he  can't 
share  in.  I  don't  understand  the  matter  at  all,  and  I 
never  think  of  it  without  pain.  After  all  our  efforts  and 
successes,  we  have  failed  in  accomplishing  the  chief- end 
that  we  had  in  view.  Belle  is  not  happy  ;  nothing  can 
convince  me  to  the  contrary." 


CHAPTER  X. 

A   TALK    WITII   ME.    MASTEKS. 

MY  sister's  opinion,  so  freely  expressed,  caused  me 
much  uneasiness,  and  Mr.  Masters',  when  I  beard  it, 
only  augmented  my  fears.  The  next  day,  after  dinner, 
he  called  to  me  to  join  him  in  the  garden,  where  he  was 
walking  without  his  usual  accompaniment,  a  good  cigar, 
and  its  absence  was  a  very  bad  sign  with  him.  His  man- 
ner was  nervous  and  irritable,  and  his  eyes  searched  my 
face  with  a  troubled,  restless  expression  in  them,  as  if  he 
needed  help,  but  saw  no  way  of  obtaining  it.  I  had 
been  absent  since  the  morning,  and  was  ignorant  of 
how  he  had  spent  his  day. 

"  What  am  I  to  do  ?  "  he  began,  drawing  my  arm 
through  his  and  looking  around  to  see  that  no  one  was 
within  hearing  distance.  "  What  can  I  do  ?  What  did 
you  think  of  Mr.  Hammond  yesterday  ?  " 

"  I  rather  admired  him,"  I  answered.  "  He  is  a  gen- 
tleman in  manner  and  appearance,  at  least,  and  his  knowl- 
edge is  very  general  and  correct  as  far  as  I  can  judge." 

Mr.  Masters  sighed,  and  shook  his  head. 


240  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

"  That  is  the  trouble.  I  cannot  succeed  in  exciting 
the  least  suspicion  of  him  in  any  one,  and  I  can  prove 
very  little  to  his  discredit,  although  my  own  mind  is 
fully  made  up  about  him." 

"  What  do  you  fear  ?  "  I  asked,  looking  and  feeling 
astonished  at  his  words. 

"  Fear  ?  I  fear  every  thing  that  is  bad  for  Claude 
Lecount.  He  is  in  the  hands  of  an  unprincipled  set  of 
men,  but  I  dread  Mr.  Hammond  more  than  all  the 
others  together.  His  very  plausibility  and  modesty 
are,  in  my  eyes,  his  worst  features.  But,  to  make  you 
understand  what  I  mean,  I  must  tell  you  how  things 
have  been  going  on  for  the  last  two  years.  I  think 
that  Mr.  Hammond's  influence  has  controlled  Claude 
for  that  length  of  time.  I  know  that  he  was  inclined 
to  speculate  before  he  married  Belle.  Mr.  Walker's 
success  gave  him  a  taste  for  it.  At  first  he  was  gov- 
erned by  Walker's  advice,  and  he  always  told  me  what 
he  had  in  contemplation.  The  schemes  were  generally 
good  ones,  but  very  slow  in  bringing  in  returns  for  the 
sums  laid  out  on  them.  He  sunk  in  that  way  a  great 
deal  of  the  money  that  I  had  realized  for  his  wife.  It 
had  been  made  by  the  investment  of  part  of  her  yearly 
interest  from  the  estate,  and,  as  it  was  outside  of  her 
regular  income,  I  was  satisfied  to  let  him  use  it  as  he 
pleased.  When  it  was  all  withdrawn  from  where  I 
had  it  paying  interest,  and  sunk  in  his  speculations,  I 
thought  that  he  would  bo  satisfied  to  await  the  results, 

O  » 

and,  in  the  mean  time,  prosecute  his  legitimate  busi  • 


A  TALK   WITH   MB.    MASTERS.  24:1 

ness.  I  was  mistaken.  Mr.  Hammond  all  at  once  gave 
up  Mr.  Walker,  and  attached  himself  to  Mr.  Lecount. 
What  they  are  doing  I  cannot  tell,  being  no  longer  ad- 
mitted into  their  confidence.  It  is  quite  enough  for  me 
to  know  that  during  the  last  two  years  their  income  has 
not  met  their  expenses,  and  I  have  had  to  advance 
money  to  Belle  before  her  own  was  due,  so  that  she 
could  pay  her  house  bills.  In  all  justice,  they  should 
be  able  to  live  well,  and  save  every  year  some  thou- 
sands of  dollars.  The  money  is  paid  into  Mr.  Lecount's 
hands,  and  I  know  that  Mrs.  Lecount  is  not  personally 
more  extravagant  than  is  allowable  ;  still  it  all  goes — 
how,  I  cannot  make  out.  It  is  a  hard  task  to  warn  a 
wife  against  her  husband,  and  so  far  I  have  not  been 
able  to  make  up  my  mind  to  do  it!  Last  week  I  made 
a  discovery  which  convinces  me  that  Claude  will  squan- 
der all  she  has  unless  I  interfere.  It  was  that  discovery 
that  brought  me  up  here  now.  This  morning  I  tried  to 
tell  it  to  my  ward,  but  I  found  it  utterly  impossible  to 
break  it  to  her.  I  went  up  to  the  house  for  no  other 
purpose.  I  felt  sure  that  the  gentlemen  would  be  out, 
and  I  was  right — they  were  all  gone  fishing.  She  came 
down  to  me,  looking  so  sweet  and  innocent,  with  her 
child  in  her  arms,  and  so  bright  and  happy,  that  I  could 
not  bring  the  words  out.  They  would  have  choked  me ; 
and  yet  the  attempt  must  be  made,  and  that  at  once." 

"  Then  you  thought  she  looked  happy,"  I  said. 

"Yes,  totally  different  from  yesterday.  She  was 
gentle  and  childish,  as  she  used  to  be.  I  think,  if  she 
11 


242  DR.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

had  been  in  the  same  mood  that  she  was  in  last  night,  I 
could  have  explained  every  thing  to  her  without  an  ef- 
fort ;  she  would  have  seemed  ready  to  hear  it ;  hut  the 
change  in  her  destroyed  all  my  plans,  and  although  the 
ladies  left  us,  and  I  had  a  fine  opportunity  of  opening 
my  mind  to  her,  I  came  away  without  even  hinting  at 
the  subject  that  interests  me." 

"  And  you  say  that  it  is  necessary  for  her  to  know 
it?" 

"Let  me  tell  you,  Doctor  Wilmer.  Last  week  I 
found  out  that  Claude  had  been  indorsing  for  Mr. 
Hammond  to  the  extent  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  That 
startled  me.  Next  I  heard  that  Mr.  Lecount  was  ne- 
gotiating for  a  heavy  loan,  for  which  a  mortgage  would 
be  given  on  a  valuable  piece  of  her  property  that  is  at 
present  free  of  all  encumbrance.  I  connected  the  two 
things  at  once.  She  is  only  a  woman,  and  she  loves'  her 
husband ;  if  Mr.  Hammond  cannot  take  up  his  own  pa- 
per, Claude  must,  and  she  will  sacrifice  every  thing  to 
preserve  his  credit.  All  this  is  under  the  supposition 
that  she  understands  the  whole  affair ;  but,  if  Claude 
don't  care  to  let  his  wife  into  his  secrets,  a  very  little 
persuasion  on  his  part  will  suffice,  and  she  will  sign 
every  thing  that  he  puts  before  her  without  having  the 
least  idea  of  the  importance  of  what  she  does." 

"Have  you  made  any  inquiries  about  Mr.  Ham- 
mond ?  "  I  asked,  feeling  more  and  more  the  reasona- 
bleness of  the  old  man's  anxiety. 

"  I  have ;   it  was  my  first  move ;  and  the  more  I 


A  TALK  WITH   ME.    MASTERS.  24:3 

learned  of  him,  the  more  cause  I  had  for  uneasiness. 
So  far  she  has  not  signed  the  papers.  I  have  now  to 
show  her  the  reasons  why  she  must  not  be  induced  to 
do  such  a  thing,  and  obtain  her  solemn  promise  that 
she  will  not  be  urged  or  forced  to  put  her  signature  to 
any  paper  without  my  knowledge  and  consent.  It  is  a 
hard  duty,  that  you  must  admit,  and  I  fear  I  shall  lose 
my  friend ;  but  Arthur  Ferris's  daughter  shall  not  be 
ruined  by  these  sharpers  if  I  can  prevent  it,  and  I  shall 
use  all  my  influence  to  counteract  their  schemes.  Will 
you  aid  me  ?  " 

"  I  will !  "  I  said,  grasping  the  hand  he  held  out  to 
me.  "  Courage  !  think  of  how  many  dangers  she  has 
escaped,  and  don't  despair  of  saving  her  from  this 
one ! " 

The  old  man  raised  his  head,  brushed  a  few  tears 
away,  and  smiled  brightly,  as  if  imbued  with  fresh 
energy. 

"  You  do  me  good,"  he  said,  with  one  of  his  honest 
glances  searching  my  face.  "  I  shall  feel  quite  strong 
and  able  to  meet  them  all  if  I  have  you  to  stand  by  me. 
Mrs.  Masters  always  insisted  that  you  had  more  influ- 
ence over  Belle  than  all  the  rest  of  us  put  together.  If 
it  com.es  to  the  worst,  you  must  promise  to  test  it  again." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  overrate  my  powers,"  I  said,  think- 
ing of  the  effort  that  such  an  interview  would  cost  me. 

"  Well,  I  shall  not  call  upon  you  unless  it  becomes 
absolutely  necessary.  The  matter  must  be  settled  soon. 
I  understand  she  accompanies  her  husband  to  Connect!- 


24:4:  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

cut ;  that  affair  depends  on  the  other.  He  cannot  em- 
bark in  the  speculation  without  a  new  supply  of  ready 
money,  which  money  he,  of  course,  expects  to  raise  on 
her  property.  If  I  succeed,  that  speculation  will  have 
to  be  abandoned,  and  so  what  I  intend  to  do  must  be 
done  at  once." 

"  You  should  see  her,  then,  to-morrow.  A  great  deal 
can  be  done  in  one  day,  and  Mr.  Lecount  may  wish  to  be 
sure  of  the  money  before  he  examines  the  investment." 

"  That  is  true.  I  shall  lose  no  more  time  in  securing 
Mrs.  Lecount's  promise.  If  I  can  only  convince  her  of 
Mr.  Hammond's  lack  of  standing  or  reputation,  the  mat- 
ter will  be  easy  after  the  first  plunge.  That  is  what 
I  dread.  I  went  to  the  hotel  where  Mr.  Hammond 
stops,  and  inquired  about  him.  You  would  be  amused 
at  the  answers  I  received.  It  seems  that  he  sometimes 
sleeps  in  the  house,  but  he  has  no  regular  room.  He 
calls  every  day,  however,  for  his  letters,  which  are  di- 
rected there,  and  meets  gentlemen  very  often  by  ap- 
pointment in  the  reading-room.  He  has  given  some 
dinners  there,  and  the  clerk  seemed  very  much  im- 
pressed with  his  importance,  and  has  an  idea  that,  when 
not  there,  Mr.  Hammond  is  stopping  by  invitation  at 
the  house  of  one  of  his  very  numerous  friends." 

"  The  idea  is  a  true  one  at  present,"  I  said,  laughing. 

"You're  right.  For  once,  at  least,  the  clerk  is  not 
mistaken.  The  trouble  is,  that  the  man  could  give  me 
no  further  intelligence,  except  that  he  came  from  St. 
Louid.  I  went  at  once  to  a  friend  of  mine  who  has  busi- 


A   TALK   WTm   MK.    MASTERS.  .  245 

ness  connections  there,  and  asked  him  to  make  inquiries 
about  this  Mr.  Hammond  for  me." 

"  Well,  and  the  result—" 

"  Justified  all  my  fears.  Mr.  Hammond  represents 
himself  as  a  man  of  property  and  position.  The  only 
person  of  the  name  that  my  friend  could  discover  any 
thing  about  was  a  well-known  gambler  and  sharper  who 
left  there  some  years  ago.  He  belonged  to  a  respect- 
able family,  was  well  educated,  and  started  in  life  with 
some  means  left  him  by  his  father.  My  friend  met  sev- 
eral old  residents  there,  who  knew  all  about  him,  and 
their  description  of  him  answers  for  this  gentleman  who 
has  acquired  such  an  influence  over  Claude.  There  is  no 
doubt  in  my  mind  but  that  they  are  one  and  the  same 
person.  These  people  even  mentioned  his  amount  of 
general  information,  and  said  how  extraordinary  it  \vas 
that  a  man  possessed  of  so 'much  knowledge  had  made 
so  little  use  of  it.  They  attributed  this  to  his  natural 
indolence  and  his  early  association.  When  he  left  col- 
lege he  joined  a  fast  set,  and  lived  on  his  money  till  it 
was  all  squandered.  By  that  time  he  had  grown  so 
accustomed  to  a  life  of  ease  and  pleasure  that  applica- 
tion to  any  one  pursuit  required  a  steadiness  and  energy 
that  he  had  outlived,  allowing  that  he  had  ever  pos- 
sessed them,  which  I  doubt  very  much.  The  result  is, 
that  he  lives  partly  by  gambling,  and  principally  by 
attaching  himself  to  men  of  means,  winning  their  confi- 
dence by  his  polished  manners  and  agreeable  informa- 
tion, and  borrowing  money  from  them  by  representing 


246  DE.  WTLMER'S  LOVE. 

that  he  is  rich  and  willing  to  pay  a  heavy  rate  of  inter- 
est for  the  loan." 

"  And  is  there  no  way  of  convincing  Mr.  Lecount  of 
his  true  character  ?  " 

"  So  far  I  have  been  foiled  in  every  attempt  that  I 
have  made.  Mr.  Lecount  is  young,  and,  if  I  must  say 
it,  lacks  foresight.  The  fact  of  having  a  rich  wife  is 
likely  to  ruin  him  if  some  change  is  not  effected  in  him 
soon.  It  will  take  him  years  to  make  the  sum  that  he 
has  committed  himself  for,  and  I  am  quite  willing  that 
his  money  should  go  in  that  way,  if  he  would  only  earn 
it  by  practising  law.  In  time  he  would  master  his  pro- 
fession and  have  the  means  to  indulge  in  these  rash 
speculations,  although  I  think  that  if  he  had  to  work 
for  the  money  he  would  not  risk  it  so  foolishly.  As  it 
is,  his  business  is  neglected,  and  he  seems  to  think  that 
his  wife's  fortune  is  inexhaustible,  and  quite  at  his  dis- 
posal to  throw  away  and  lend  as  he  pleases." 

"  He  is  still  very  young,"  I  said. 

"  Yes,  and  his  youth  may  excuse  his  rashness,  but  it 
does  not  excuse  his  presumption  and  want  of  respect  for 
older  and  wiser  heads.  I  told  him,  before  he  married 
Belle,  that  I  was  satisfied  that  she  should  marry  a  poor 
man,  provided  he  had  a  good  calling  in  life  that  he  was 
willing  to  pursue  honestly  and  steadily.  It  made  no 
difference  to  me  what  it  was,  so  long  as  it  might  be 
named  as  fair  and  legitimate.  I  told  him  that  she  had 
enough  and  to  spare,  and  could  assist  him  whenever  he 
saw  a  good  opportunity  for  investing  money.  I  knew 


A   TALK   WITH   ME.    MASTERS.  24:7 

that  Belle  only  valued  her  money  for  the  good  it  would 
do,  and  I  did  not  like  to  hurt  his  pride,  or  let  him  feel 
for  one  moment  that  his  wife  was  conferring  any  favors 
on  him.  For  that  reason  I  showed  him  all  that  I  was 
doing,  and  explained  every  thing  connected  with  her 
affairs  to  him.  I  placed  all  her  income  in  his  hands ; 
she  would  not  have  it  otherwise,  and  the  first  thing  she 
requested  him  to  do  for  her  was  to  put  his  father's 
house  in  perfect  order.  Her  delicacy  was  almost  mor- 
bid in  every  thing  relating  to  money  ;  every  dollar  she 
spends  passes  through  his  hands  before  she  has  it,  and 
she  is  careful  in  every  way  about  offending  his  pride. 
No  one  would  ever  suppose  for  one  moment  that  the 
money  he  uses  so  lavishly  comes  from  her,  and  that 
his  complete  power  over  it  is  the  result  of  her  perfect 
trust  in  his  good  faith.  One  might  think  that  her  care- 
lessness proceeded  from  ignorance ;  but  it  is  not  the 
case.  She  understands  her  own  position  thoroughly.  I 
was  determined  that  she  should.  I  made  her  apply  all 
she  had  learned  about  interest,  dividends,  and  per  cent, 
by  comprehending  her  own  affairs.  If  she  signs  these 
papers,  however,  before  I  see  her,  the  probability  is  that 
she  will  not  fully  understand  them  ;  if  she  does  it  after- 
ward, I  shall  know  that,  at  any  rate,  she  is  fully  con- 
scious of  the  importance  of  the  action." 

"  But  you  hope  to  prevent  such  an  unfortunate  thing 
being  accomplished  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  hope  it.  When  I  look  back  on  the  last  three 
years,  and  think  how  Mr.  Lecount  has  abused  the  confi- 


248  DE.  WILHER'S  LOVE. 

dence  placed  in  him  by  his  wife  and  her  friends,  I  lose 
all  compunctions  about  showing  her  her  husband's  char- 
acter in  its  true  light." 

"  It  is  a  difficult  thing  to  do  tinder  any  circum- 
stances, and  particularly  so  in  your  case.  Is  there  no 
alternative  ?  Can  you  not  reason  with  him  ?  " 

"  Reason  with  him,  Doctor  Wilmer !  I  have  tried 
every  argument  applicable  to  the  case.  I  even  told  him 
that  I  considered  these  transactions  dishonest  when  car- 
ried on  with  his  wife's  money.  I  said  that,  even  if  he 
had  earned  it  himself,  it  would  be  wrong  to  risk  her 
comfort  and  the  means  of  supporting  her  by  such  doubt- 
ful speculations.  He  answered  me  rudely,  and  declared 
that,  if  we  were  to  remain  friends,  it  could  only  be 
through  my  paying  no  attention  to  his  affairs.  I  said 
that  I  considered  it  my  affair  in  a  measure;  and  his  an- 
swer was,  that,  once  I  paid  the  yearly  income  into  his 
hands  to  use  for  his  family's  good,  all  my  interest  in  it 
ceased.  I  blame  myself  now  for  giving  him  so  much 
power  in  the  matter,  but,  at  the  time,  it  appeared  to  be 
the  best  thing  for  their  happiness  that  I  could  do. 
This  last  year  he  has  been  worse  than  ever ;  as  I  told 
you,  I  have  had  to  advance  money  to  them  to  meet  ex- 
penses. If  he  makes  any  thing  in  his  business,  it  goes 
with  the  rest,  and  if  he  were  to  succeed  in  what  he  con- 
templates at  present,  she  would  be  ruined  before  the 
time  that  her  father  appointed  for  her  to  come  into  full 
control  of  her  property.  She  is  now  nearly  twenty-four, 
and  at  thirty-five  all  my  interest  in  the  matter  ceases. 


A   TALK  WITn    ME.   MASTERS.  249 

Then  she  can  do  as  she  pleases.  Mr.  Lecount  may 
start  what  speculations  he  sees  fit.  One  of  his  recent 
investments  is  a  diamond-mine  in  Brazil,  and  most  of 
his  others  are  just  about  equally  sensible  and  profitable. 
They  sound  amusing,  and  I  might  laugh  at  them  if  they 
concerned  a  stranger,  but  I  cannot  take  the  matter  easy 
when  Belle  is  to  be  the  loser. 

"  Any  thing  I  can  do  to  help  you  I  will,"  I  said. 
"  Arrange  some  plan  for  speaking  to  her,  and  we  will 
assist  you  in  accomplishing  it." 

"  I  need  not  tell  you  that  Claude  no  longer  likes  me ; 
you  must  have  noticed  last  evening  how  restive  he  was 
because  I  remained  after  dinner  with  his  friends.  I 
knew  he  did  not  want  me  there,  but  my  suspicions  were 
aroused,  and  I  was  determined  to  hear  all  I  could.  He 
attempted  to  stop  them  several  times,  but  they  let 
enough  drop  to  satisfy  me.  He  has  tried  to  quarrel 
with  me  more  than  once,  but  he  did  not  succeed.  I 
understand  him.  He  would  be  delighted  to  prevent  me 
meeting  his  wife.  However,  I  shall  put  up  with  any 
thing  from  him  for  the  sake  of  seeing  her  now  and  then, 
and  watching  over  her.  She  seldom  comes  near  us 
now,  never  in  the  evening  except  by  invitation.  Only 
for  her  morning  visits,  when  she  brings  her  child  and 
his  nurse  with  her,  I  don't  know  what  would  become 
of  my  wife  and  me.  We  have  grown  so  used  to  her 
and  so  fond  of  her,  that  the  idea  of  gradually  losing  her 
is  very  hard  to  bear.  I  know  that  she  feels  the  influ- 
ence that  is  separating  us,  but  she  does  not  like  to  ac- 
11* 


250  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

knowledge  it  to  herself,  and  she  tries  to  hide  it  from  us. 
In  some  things  she  is  but  a  child  still.  Now,  my  idea 
is  this.  Let  us  all  go  up  there  to-night  for  a  short  time. 
I  ought  to  leave  for  home  to-morrow,  and  if  I  can  succeed 
in  warning  her  it  can  pass  for  a  farewell  visit,  as  there 
is  a  necessity  for  my  presence  in  New  York,  and  noth- 
ing but  this  affair  to  detain  me  here.  Of  course,  I  shall 
remain  longer  if  not  successful  to-night,  and  shall  de- 
pend on  you  to  keep  Miss  Pauline  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion in  another  part  of  the  room." 

I  promised,  and  we  returned  to  the  house  to  prepare 
for  the  visit. 

When  we  reached  Mr.  Lecount's,  there  was  a  noisy 
party  assembled  at  the  dinner-table ;  we  could  hear  their 
voices  and  loud  laughter  before  we  caught  sight  of  the 
gentlemen  themselves,  which  we  did  through  the  open 
blinds  as  we  approached  the  house.  When  we  entered 
the  parlor,  young  Mrs.  Lecount  was  absent  from  the 
family  circle  gathered  round  the  centre-table.  Our 
coming  caused  no  surprise,  as  it  was  the  custom  for 
neighbors  to  drop  in  upon  each  other  whenever  they 
felt  like  it. 

The  ladies  looked  very  bright  and  handsome,  and, 
with  their  various  pieces  of  gay  fancy-work  in  their 
hands,  were  quite  ready  for  visitors  and  a  long  gossip. 
The  formality  of  the  preceding  day  had  disappeared, 
and  the  usual  ease  and  graceful  merriment,  always  so 
enjoyable,  were  in  the  ascendant.  Mrs.  Lecount  had 
nearly  regained  her  health,  and  was,  if  any  thing,  more 


A   TALK   WITII   MK.    MASTERS.  251 

fascinating  than  her  handsome  daughters.  My  admira- 
tion for  her  was.  an  understood  thing,  so  she  made  room 
for  me  on  the  sofa,  with  a  bright  smile,  and,  placing  her 
skein  of  wool  over  my  hands,  went  on  winding  it  as  if 
my  holding  it  were  the  most  natural  and  regular  thing 
in  the  world. 

"  Where  is  Belle  ? "  called  out  my  sister,  with  a 
glance  that  took  in  all  the  recesses  in  the  room. 

Mrs.  Lecount  looked  at  her  daughter  and  then  at 
me,  without  answering. 

"  She  is  not  quite  well — "  commenced  Miss  Pauline. 

"  Now,  Pauline,  why  do  you  say  that  to  frighten 
Mr.  Masters  and  every  one  else  ?  "  said  Miss  Marie,  in 
her  own  straightforward  manner,  and  looking  full  in 
her  sister's  face.  "  The  truth  is,"-  she  went  on,  lowering 
her  voice,  "Belle  does  not  like  one  of  Claude's  friends 
well  enough  to  meet  him  again  at  the  table,  and  so, 
under  plea  of  a  slight  headache,  she  has  remained  up- 
stairs all  the  evening.  I  think  she  is  quite  right — I 
would  do  the  same  thing  myself.  That  Mr.  Hunter  is 
not  a  gentleman,  and  she  cannot  put  up  with  his  impu- 
dent familiarity.  Her  head  must  ache  enough  now,  for 
her  chamber  is  over  the  dining-room,  and  his  voice  is  loud 
enough  to  be  heard  all  over  the  house.  If  he  goes  with 
the  others  to  Connecticut,  I  can't  imagine  what  Belle 
will  do.  She  told  me  distinctly,  this  morning,  that  she 
would  not  meet  him  again." 

"Let  me  go  up  to  her,"  said  my  sister;  "Mr. 
Masters  thinks  of  leaving  us  in  the  morning,  and  I  am 


252  DK.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

sure  she  will  want  to  see  him.     I  know  she  will  come 
down  for  me."  « 

"  Tell  her  Mr.  Hunter  is  still  at  the  table,  and  not 
likely  to  leave  it  for  some  time.  She  may  venture  down 
for  a  few  minutes,"  Miss  Marie  said,  half  laughingly. 

"  And  if  Arthur  is  awake,  tell  her  to  bring  him  down 
too — I  want  to  see  him,"  added  Mrs.  Masters. 

My  sister  left  the  room,  and  Mr.  Masters  waited  im- 
patiently for  his  ward's  appearance. 

Miss  Pauline  seemed  ill  at  ease,  and  cast  longing 
glances  toward  the  open  door  of  the  dining-room,  as  if 
wishing  for  the  presence  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  parlor. 
Her  answers  to  my  remarks  were  quite  vague  and 
absent-minded,  and  I  felt  that  she  dreaded  a  meeting 
between  Mr.  Masters*  and  her  sister-in-law,  without 
knowing  exactly  what  to  do  to  prevent  it. 

In  a  few  minutes  young  Mrs.  Lecount  entered,  with 
her  child  half  asleep  in  her  arms.  She  gave  him  to  Mrs. 
Masters,  fondly  kissing  the  old  lady  as  she  did  so. 

"  I  was  just  rocking  him  to  sleep  when  you  came  in," 
she  said ;  "  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you  all !  but  why  must 
you  return  to  New  York  to-morrow  ?  "  and  she  put  her 
hand  on  Mr.  Masters'  arm,  and  looked  into  his  face  ap- 
pealingly,  as  if  afraid  of  losing  a  certain  support  with 
his  departure. 

He  drew  her  arm  in  his,  and  walked  off  to  the  end 
of  the  long  room,  with  some  gay  answer  as  to  satisfying 
her  curiosity.  They  stood  for  some  time  near  a  distant 
window,  and  then  sat  down,  almost  concealed  from 


A  TALK  WITH   MB.    MASTERS.  253 

view  by  its  heavy  curtains,  and  the  shadow  of  a  large 
book-case  that  stood  near  b)§  Miss  Pauline  watched 
them  suspiciously,  but  suddenly  becoming  conscious  of 
my  observation,  she  joined  in  the  conversation  caused 
by  little  Arthur's  baby-prattle  and  mischief.  He  was 
sitting  quite  contentedly  with  Mrs.  Masters,  flourishing 
about  an  expensive  fan  of  his  aunt's,  that  he  had 
snatched  off  one  of  the  little  tables.  My  sister  was 
making  quiet  efforts  to  take  it  from  him,  as  it  was 
threatened  -with  speedy  destruction,  and  the  young 
gentleman  seemed  just  as  determined  to  retain  posses- 
sion of  it.  His  attempts  to  open  and  use  it  in  imitation 
of  his  aunt  would  have  been  quite  amusing,  if  the  toy 
had  been  less  costly.  At  last  his  movements  attracted 
Miss  Pauline's  attention,  and  she  forgot  for  a  time  Mr. 
Masters  and  his  ward ! 

"  You  little  mischief, "  she  exclaimed,  rising  hastily. 
"  Give  it  to  me  this  instant ! " 

Master  Arthur  only  clutched  it  the  tighter  as  she 
spoke,  and  began  to  scream  for  his  mother.  Miss  Pau- 
line caught  his  hands  and  rescued  her  fan,  while  his 
cries  rose  higher  and  louder,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
excitement  the  gentlemen  sauntered  into  the  room. 
Mr.  Lecount  looked  around  him  as  if  astonished. 

"  Have  done,  sir ! "  he  said  to  his  child,  in  a  decided 
tone.  The  little  fellow  choked  back  his  sobs,  and 
obeyed  instantly ;  then  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  his  father's 
face,  while  the  tears  trickled  down  his  pretty  cheeks, 
but  without  moving  or  attempting  to  say  a  word. 


254  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

Mr.  Hammond  stopped  to  look  at  him,  with  some 
remark  on  his  beauty.  _ 

"  Where  is  his  nurse  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Lecount,  turning 
to  his  sister,  as  if  weary  of  the  scene. 

"I  shall  take  him,"  answered  a  soft  voice,  and 
young  Mrs.  Lecount  came  forward,  followed  by  Mr. 
Masters.  She  took  her  child  in  her  arms,  bowed  dis- 
tantly to  all  in  the  room,  and  went  up-stairs.  Her  face 
was  white  and  rigid,  and  her  eyes  looked  as  if  she  had 
been  crying.  Mr.  Lecount,  for  a  moment,  stood  con- 
fused, and  an  angry  glare  flashed  in  his  eyes ;  but  he 
recovered  himself  quickly,  and  spoke  to  us  as  usual. 
"We  did  not  remain  long  that  evening.  Mr.  Masters 
was  not  in  a  sociable  mood,  and  refused  to  join  the 
other  gentlemen  in  a  game  of  vingt-et-un,  which  they 
were  enjoying  very  much.  I  felt  that  we  were  a  re- 
straint on  them,  and  I  think  that  they  were  relieved 
when  we  rose  to  say  good-night.  "When  we  reached 
home,  Mr.  Masters  took  my  arm  and  told  me  the  result 
of  his  interview  with  his  ward,  while  we  walked  up  and 
down  the  long  piazza. 

"You  would  hardly  have  given  her  credit  for  so 
much  sense  and  spirit,"  he  said.  "  Her  husband  wished 
her  to  sign  those  papers  in  New  York,  and  he  has  urged 
her  to  consent  repeatedly,  since  they  came  here.  She 
refused  steadily  to  do  it,  unless  I  approved  of  the  meas- 
ure. She  wanted  him  to  show  me  the  papers  the  other 
day.  His  anger  at  the  proposition  raised  her  curiosity, 
and  she  discovered  that  I  knew  nothing  from  him  about 


A   TALK   WITH   MK.    MASTERS.  255 

the  matter.  Then  she  told  him  that  she  disliked  the 
friends  that  he  has  with  him,  a/id  felt  that  their  influ- 
ence over  him  was  injurious,  and  could  only  lead  to 
evil.  She  says,  that  only  for  Hunter,  she  thinks  she 
would  have  signed  them  some  days  ago,  but  she  over- 
heard him  asking  Claude  if  they  were  all  right,  and 
her  dislike  of  the  man  made  her  suspicious.  She  said, 
very  innocently,  that  she  did  not  think  any  thing  he 
recommended  could  be  good  for  Claude.  She  tried  to 
screen  Claude  all  she  could,  but  I  know  that  he  has 
been  very  rough  with  her,  and  I  intend  to  tell  him  what 
I  think  of  this  affair  before  long.  When  I  explained 
about  Hammond's  notes,  she  begged  of  me  to  think  of 
'some  plan  for  saving  her  husband's  credit.  She  knows, 
as  well  as  I  do,  that  neither  party  will  be  able  to  take 
them  up.  So  I  consented  to  get  possession  of  them  for 
her,  and  she  promised  that  she  would  sign  nothing 
without  my  knowledge.  She  feels  as  I  do  about  these 
speculations,  and  is  just  as  much  opposed  to  sinking 
good  money  in  them.  Of  course,  she  realizes  the  waste 
that  has  been  going  on,  and,  what  is  more,  she  has 
penetrated  Mr.  Hammond's  designs,  and  distrusts  him 
entirely.  She  thinks  he  is  too  complimentary  to  be 
sincere,  and  he  annoys  her  with  his  attentions.  She 
quite  astonished  me ;  I  did  not  give  her  credit  for  so 
much  shrewdness." 

"  I  think,"  I  said,  "  that  she  possesses  the  gift  of 
reading  character,  but  what  surprises  me  is,  her  lack  of 
influence  with  Mr.  Lccount." 


256  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

"  I  have  often  wondered  at  it  too.  After  they  were 
married  a  short  time,  she  seemed  to  lose  it,  not  gradual- 
ly, but  all  at  once.  I  have  often  noticed  the  change  in 
his  manner  toward  her.  He  shows  neither  tenderness 
nor  respect,  and  yet  she  has  not  lost  her  claim  on  both. 
She  has  never  lowered  herself  in  his  estimation,  and  she 
is  still  young  and  beautiful.  I  know  that,  womanlike, 
she  has  tried  every  thing  in  her  power  to  wean  him  from 
these  men,  from  gentle  persuasion  to  downright  opposi- 
tion, as  we  saw  to-night.  One  seems  to  be  about  as 
effective  as  the  other.  All  the  love  in  the  world  won't 
save  a  man  from  ruin  if  he  is  determined  not  to  use  his 
own  reasoning  powers.  Nothing  will  stop  Claude  but 
want  of  means,  and  as  long  as  his  wife's  property  yields 
money,  he  will  sink  every  cent  he  can  gain  possession 
of.  She  will  have  many  a  hard  struggle  to  save  what, 
her  father  left  her,  and  I  anticipate  a  stormy  interview 
with  Mr.  Claude  after  he  hears  of  what  took  place  to- 
night." 

"  What  a  position  for  her ! "  I  said,  almost  uncon- 
sciously. Mr.  Masters  heard  me. 

"  Yes,  I  was  sorry  for  it,  but  what  could  I  do  ?  It 
was  an  ungrateful  task  to  tell  a  wife  to  disobey  her  hus- 
band; but  I  should  be  false  to  my  trust  if  I  let  him 
beggar  her  and  himself;  and  it  would  take  more  money 
than  I  could  furnish  to  meet  his  demands.  He  will  be 
angry  enough,  for  this  Connecticut  expedition  must  be 
given  up,  and  how  he  will  manage  to  excuse  himself 
and  his  capital  to  the  gentlemen,  is  more  than  I  can 


A  TALK  WITH   ME.    MASTERS.  257 

imagine.  Only  for  her,  I  could  laugh  at  the  idea  of 
their  faces  when  he  tells  them  that  he  cannot  par- 
ticipate in  their  immense  profits — and  losses." 

The  next  morning  Mr.  Masters  left  us  for  New 
York.  His  wife  remained,  hoping  to  see  more  of  her 
darling,  but  for  several  days  we  saw  nothing  of  the 
Lecount  family.  "We  heard  that  the  gentlemen  from 
New  York  were  still  there ;  and  once  or  twice,  when 
returning  home  late  at  night,  I  had  seen  lights  in  the 
house,  and  heard  loud  voices  proceeding  from  it  through 
the  open  windows.  My  sister  was  busy  making  her 
winter  preserves,  and  besides,  a  little  ceremonious. 
She  thought  it  was  time  for  Belle  and  Pauline  to  call  on 
us.  One  morning,  contrary  to  my  usual  habit,  I  was 
in  my  office  attending  to  a  patient,  when  I  heard  a  loud 
barking,  and  considerable  screaming.  I  looked  out  of 
the  window,  and  saw  Master  Arthur  Lecount  with  his 
arms  around  Dash's  shaggy  neck,  attempting  to  climb 
on  his  back.  His  mother  was  looking  at  him,  half 
frightened,  half  delighted  at  his  courage,  and  his  nurse 
was  holding  him  back  with  an  energy  almost  ludicrous. 
As  usual,  the  child  gained  the  day ;  he  was  lifted  to  the 
coveted  place  on  Dash's  woolly  back,  and  came  in  tri- 
umph up  the  path,  refusing  to  be  held  on  by  either 
mother  or  nurse.  When  I  was  at  leisure,  I  went  into 
the  parlor,  expecting  to  find  the  family  there,  but  they 
were  all  gathered  on  the  piazza,  watching  Master 
Arthur  enjoying  himself.  He  was  screaming  with 
delight,  still  perched  on  his  dangerous  seat,  for  Dash, 


258  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

being  quite  unused  to  such  treatment,  was  growing 
restless  under  his  young  rider,  and  seemed  disposed  to 
throw  him  on  his  head  by  a  sudden  rush  to  the  kennel. 
Young  Mrs.  Lecount  was  leaning  against  the  nearest 
tree,  with  extended  hands,  ready  to  catch  her  spoiled 
darling  if  he  should  fall.  She  was  looking  remarkably 
bright  at  the  moment,  and  laughing  at  my  sister's 
remarks  on  the  way  she  was  ruining  the  boy.  Seen  in 
repose,  her  face  was  careworn  and  sorrowful,  and  there 
were  large  circles  round  her  eyes,  now  dim  and  sunken, 
though  once  so  brilliant  and  full  of  expression. 

My  coming  relieved  her  anxiety  a  little,  for  Dash 
put  his  head  under  my  arm  and  became  quiet,  and 
Master  Arthur  grew  tired  of  his  play  when  there  was 
no  longer  any  danger  and  consequent  glory  attached 
to  it,  and  ran  off  to  gather  my  sister's  favorite  roses  and 
pinks.  His  nuree  followed  him,  making  vain  attempts 
to  protect  them.  Mrs.  Lecount  sank  with  a  low  sigh 
on  her  favorite  old  seat,  a  rustic  bench,  half  hidden  by 
climbing  roses  and  honeysuckles.  Their  slender,  twin- 
ing branches  formed  a  bright-green  frame  for  her  sligbt, 
graceful  figure ;  and  I  never  smell  the  perfume  of  their 
blossoms  without  recalling  the  pretty  picture  that  she 
made  so  unconsciously,  while  listening,  with  a  sad, 
dreamy  look  in  her  face,  to  my  mother's  lecture. 

"  You  are  destroying  your  own  health,  my  child, 
forever  running  after  Arthur,  and  fretting  about  him. 
You  should  have  more  trust  in  Providence,  and  more 
confidence  in  his  nurse.  If  you  think  she  is  too  young 


A   TALK   WITH   ME.    MASTEKS.  259 

and  giddy  for  the  charge,  you  should  look  for  an  older 
person  that  you  could  rely  upon." 

"Mr.  Lecount  chose  this  girl  himself;  he  was  de- 
lighted with  her  accent,  it  was  so  remarkably  pure, 
and  I  know  he  would  be  very  unwilling  to  part  with 
her  ;  besides,  I  have  no  fault  to  find ;  she  is  both  careful 
and  good-tempered." 

"  Then  why  sacrifice  your  own  health  for  no  reason  ? 
It  can  do  Arthur  no  good  either  now  or  in  the  future. 
Besides,  your  unceasing  anxiety  shows  a  want  of  faith, 
and  yet  your  faith  was  once  very  strong."  My  mother 
held  out  her  hand  as  if  to  soften,  by  a  caress,  the  appar- 
ent harshness  of  her  speech. 

Mrs.  Lecount  suddenly  threw  her  arms  around  my 
mother  with  one  of  her  old  passionate  impulses,  and  laid 
her  young  face  against  the  worn,  faded  cheek. 

"  I  have  not  lost  my  faith,"  she  exclaimed,  "  oh,  no ! 
I  have  not  lost  that.  But  if  I  ever  had  any  self-reliance 
it  is  all  gone.  I  have  lost  confidence  in  myself;  I  am 
afraid  of  not  doing  my  duty  to  Arthur ;  if  he  should  ever 
reproach  me  for  that,  it  would  kill  me.  If  I  only  had 
you  near  me  to  tell  me  what  is  right !  but  I  have  no  one 
to  guide  me,  and  so  many  to  please.  It  is  hard  to  know 
always  just  what  is  right  to  do ;  I  try  to  be  governed 
by  principle,  but  sometimes  passion  overcomes  me,  and 
I  fail.  You  can  excuse  me ;  you  know  what  a  mere 
child  I  was  when  I  left  you  three  years  ago.  I  was 
young  and  foolish  to  undertake  the  cares  of  life,  but  I 
met  them  bravely  because  I  was  so  ignorant  of  all  that 


260  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

• 

they  required.  I  suppose  I  have  gained  wisdom  by  ex- 
perience, but  very  often  I  feel  as  helpless  and  as  childish 
as  I  did  the  first  day  you  saw  me.  I  felt  so  this  morn- 
ing, and  I  came  to  you ;  I  knew  the  sound  of  your  voice 
would  do  me  good,  and  I  will  remember  your  advice 
about  Arthur."  She  rose  as  she  spoke. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ? "  asked  my  sister,  sur- 
prised. 

"  Going  to  bid  you  good-by.  I  promised  to  return 
soon."  She  tried  to  smile  as  she  spoke,  but  ended  by 
crying  softly. 

My  sister  could  not  repress  her  astonishment.  "  Why, 
what  do  you  mean,  Belle  ?  You  have  not  stood  in  the 
house  for  three  years,  and  this  is  your  first  visit  since 
you  6ame." 

"  Tes,  and  I  left  the  bad  news  for  the  end.  We  are 
going  home  to-night.  Mr.  Lecount  will  not  remain 
here  any  longer,  so  my  first  visit  is  my  last.  But  I  must 
have  one  run  through  the  dear  old  rooms  so  that  I  can 
picture  them  in  my  mind,  until  I  see  them  again." 
She  went  gayly  into  the  house  arm  in  arm  with  my 
mother,  and  I  heard  her  lamenting  the  absence  of  some 
old  pieces  of  furniture,  now  replaced  by  new  ones,  more 
fashionable  and  less  enjoyable.  She  gathered  flowers 
from  the  plants  that  she  had  once  tended,  and  exclaimed 
with  wondering  delight  at  the  size  of  some  geraniums 
that  had  grown  from  slips  of  her  own  setting.  She 
flitted  from  bush  to  bush,  pointing  out  their  beauties  to 
Arthur,  and  delighting  my  mother  by  recalling  happy 


A   TALK    WITH   ME.    MASTERS.  261 

recollections  of  the  days  that  she  had  spent  among 
them.  Each  was  associated  in  her  mind  with  some  little 
incident  trifling  in  itself,  and  possessed  of  no  interest  for 
others,  yet  it  filled  a  page  in  the  book  of  her  girlish  life. 
At  last  the  bright  hour  was  over ;  there  was  a  hurried, 
tearful  good-by  spoken,  and  the  gate  was  closed  on  our 
welcome  visitors.  I  felt  that  every  thing  surrounding 
me  had  lost  a  part  of  its  attraction ;  the  bushes  were 
dusty,  and  the  flowers  drooped ;  the  house  appeared 
cold,  and  in  want  of  repair ;  the  garden-bench,  so  pic- 
turesque when  she  sat  upon  it,  had  retaken  its  old  form ; 
it  was  merely  a  worm-eaten  board,  darkened  by  wind 
and  weather,  and  fit  only  for  firewood.  Her  disappear- 
ance had  the  effect  of  the  last  stroke  of  midnight  in  the 
fairy  tale.  When  next  I  looked  at  myself  in  the  mir- 
ror, I  felt  that  I  appeared  older  and  graver  than  I  had 
before  she  came. 


CHAPTER  XL 

IN    WHICH   THE   FIRST   LIXK    OF   A   CURIOUS   CHAIN 
IS    FORGED. 

THE  following  day  Mr.  Lecount's  house  settled  into 
its  usual  habits,  to  his  great  relief,  and  we  returned  to 
our  monotonous,  happy  life.  Miss  Pauline  had  gone  to 
New  York  with  the  others ;  it  appeared  to  be  an  under- 
stood thing  that  she  should  reside  with  them.  I  heard 
my  mother  and  sister  discussing  the  subject  one  night. 
They  thought  that  the  arrangement  was  a  bad  one,  and 
not  likely  to  lead  to  good  results.  To  me  the  matter 
seemed  unworthy  of  consideration,  but  I  knew  nothing 
of  the  small  annoyances,  so  well  understood  by  women, 
that  often  arise  under  such  circumstances. 

As  the  weeks  passed,  we  heard  little  of  what  was 
taking  place  in  the  family.  The  winter  that  followed 
was  dull,  owing  to  the  unsettled  condition  of  the 
country.  The  political  horizon  was  dark  and  threaten- 
ing. Public  credit  and  private  fortunes  were  shaken. 
The  men  talked  of  failure,  and  the  women  of  economy. 
I  met  gloom  and  despondency  on  every  threshold.  The 


FIRST   LINK   OF   A   CURIOUS   CHAIN.  263 

saving  of  money  was  the  theme  of  conversation,  and  the 
subject  of  deep  thought.  People  hardly  anticipated  that 
the  time  was  coming,  when  not  only  their  money,  but 
the  lives  of  their  children,  should  be  demanded  of 
them.  ^% 

Political  discussions  were  in  the  ascendant ;  and  my 
Bister,  always  ambitious  of  being  my  companion,  by  dint 
of  listening  and  hard  reading,  became  quite  conversant 
with  the  questions  that  were  agitating  the  country. 
Mr.  Masters  kept  me  supplied  with  the  pamphlets  and 
newspapers  that  discussed  politics.  We  had  all  sides 
of  the  questions  before  us,  and  our  little  circle  of  friends 
was  about  equally  divided  on  them.  The  Lecounts 
were  for  State  rights  decidedly ;  others  were  still  hesi- 
tating as  to  which  side  was  upholding  the  Constitution 
more  were  uncompromising  Federalists.  Our  discus- 
sions, though  noisy,  were  always  friendly  and  interest- 
ing. Several  of  the  opposing  members  of  the  circle 
were  men  of  learning  and  deep  foresight.  They  argued 
with  this  idea  always  in  view,  What  is  best  for  the 
future  welfare  of  the  country  ?  Maps  were  looked  up, 
the  political  opinions  of  the  founders  of  the  government 
were  searched  out  and  discussed.  I  learned  more  of  the 
policy  of  the  country  that  winter,  its  internal  con- 
dition, and  the  aims  of  its  opposing  parties,  than  I  had 
ever  done  in  all  my  previous  years  put  together. 

In  the  midst  of  these  agreeable  debates  I  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Masters.  He  was  quite  sick,  and  desired 
to  see  me  without  delay.  I  went  down  to  him  at  once. 


264:  DE.  WILMKB'S  LOVE. 

He  was  confined  to  his  room  by  a  heavy  cold,  and  its 
effects  were  only  too  visible  in  his  altered  appearance 
and  weak  voice. 

"  You  see,  doctor,  I  am  growing  old,"  he  said,  while 
the  smile  with  which  he  had  welcomed  me  faded  from 
his  face.  "  This  winter  has  been  hard  on  me ;  and 
anxiety  wears  more  than  work.  Things  have  been 
growing  worse  and  worse  between  Mr.  Lecount  and  me. 
His  wife  has,  so  far,  kept  her  promise,  and  he  has  not  for- 
given me  for  exacting  it.  He  was  here  the  other  night, 
and  had  the  coolness  to  ask  me  if  I  intended  appointing 
him  as  my  successor  in  the  trusteeship  of  his  wife's 
property.  I  told  him  no,  decidedly ;  that  in  my  estima- 
tion he  was  not  fit  for  the  responsibility.  He  became 
very  abusive ;  happily,  Belle  was  down-stairs  with  Mrs. 
Masters,  and  did  not  hear  him.  He  demanded  to  know 
whom  I  had  appointed,  and  I  told  him  *  No  one.'  After 
he  was  gone  I  thought  the  matter  over,  and  I  begin  to 
realize  that  it  is  time  to  make  a  choice.  I  need  an  hon- 
est man  and  one  that  feels  an  interest  in  my  ward ;  you 
will  tell  me  that  you  do  not  live  here,  and  that  you 
know  but  little  of  mortgages  and  real  estate.  You  can 
learn  enough  of  them  in  six  months  to  understand  her 
affairs ;  they  are  in  good  order.  As  far  as  the  practical 
part  of  the  business  is  concerned,  it  is  in  the  hands  of  a 
fine  lawyer,  the  one  her  father  employed.  He  will  con- 
fer with  you  when  it  is  necessary,  and  you  will  judge 
honestly  for  her  interest.  I  feel  that  I  can  trust  you ; 
that  is  why  I  have  sent  for  you  to  ask  this  favor  from 


FIRST  LINK  OF   A  (DUBIOUS  CHAIN.  265 

you.  It  is  a  responsibility,  but  not  one  that  an  honest 
man  should  shrink  from  undertaking.  She  will  have 
every  confidence  in  you,  and  you  know  enough  of  Mr. 
Lecount  to  be  careful  of  him.  I  dare  not  leave  it  in  his 
hands,  and  I  know  of  .none  but  you  that  I  am  sure 
could  not  be  overcome  by  his  plausible  arguments." 

He  looked  at  me  earnestly  for  a  few  moments,  and 
then  held  out  his  hand. 

"  Think  it  over  to-night,  doctor,  and  tell  me  your 
answer  in  the  morning.  After  tea,  if  you  are  not  too 
tired,  I  will  just  show  you  how  her  money  is  invested, 
and  what  you  would  have  to  do.  Don't  let  my  need 
of  you  overcome  any  principle  of  right  that  it  might 
unsettle ;  do  just  what  you  feel  to  be  correct.  At  the 
same  time,  don't  be  too  modest  in  weighing  your  own 
abilities ;  don't  let  any  idea  of  ignorance  prevent  you 
from  saying  '  Yes ! '  " 

After  tea  Mr.  Masters  took  a  bundle  of  papers  out  of 
his  safe,  and  went  over  them  with  me  ;  explaining  now 
and  then  what  I  did  not  understand,  and  often  stopping 
in  the  middle  of  a  sentence  to  figure  up  a  sum  or  calcu- 
late interest.  As  he  had  told  me,  every  thing  was  clear 
and  concise ;  it  needed  but  little  effort  to  comprehend 
the  state  of  Mrs.  Lecount's  affairs.  The  consideration 
that  made  me  hesitate  in  accepting  the  trust  was,  the 
conviction  that  Mr.  Lecount  disliked  me.  His  manner 
and  conversation,  whenever  I  was  in  his  company,  had 
convinced  me  of  the  fact.  As  jealousy  was  the  only 
motive  for  this  that  I  could  think  of,  I  disliked  being 
12 


2G6  DR.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

drawn  into  relations  with  Mrs.  Lecount  that  might  in- 
crease his  mistrust,  and  cause  her  more  trouble.  I  knew 
that  she  would  have  every  confidence  in  my  honesty 
and  judgment,  but  that  her  husband  would  not.  In  the 
event  of  our  opinions  not  agreeipg,  and  discussions  aris- 
ing, the  fact  of  having  to  side  with  me  against  him 
Avould  be  unpleasant  for  her,  and  injurious  to  her  com- 
fort. A  greater  stranger  would,  under  such  circum- 
stances, make  a  more  acceptable  guardian. 

On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Masters  mistrusted  the  policy 
of  putting  all  power  into  the  hands  of  one  not  personally 
interested  in  her  welfare.  Then,  again,  Mr.  Masters  was 
not  dangerously  sick,  and  his  constitution  was  naturally 
good ;  he  might  live  for  years  beyond  her  thirty-fifth 
birthday.  The  very  fact,  of  not  being  sure  of  a  person 
that  he  trusted  to  succeed  him,  was  wearing  on  his  mind 
and  spirits,  and  prolonged  his  illness.  "When  I  mentioned 
my  reason  for  hesitating  in  the  matter,  he  laughed. 

"  If  Lecount's  dislike  is  all  that  holds  you  back,  you 
may  make  your  mind  easy.  He  will  dislike  any  one 
that  I  appoint.  He  was  silly  enough  to  think  that  I 
would  name  him,  and  no  one  else  will  suit  him.  I  told 
his  wife  that  I  would  not  do  it  under  any  consideration. 
She  was  saying  one  evening  that  she  would  willingly 
exchange  money  for  peace,  and  I  told  her  that  with  me 
it  was  a  matter  of  principle  not  to  allow  her  means  to 
be  squandered.  This  occurred  only  a  month  ago,  and 
Lecount  and  I  had  some  pretty  sharp  words  between 
us.  He  wanted  me  to  advance  him  some  five  thou- 


FIRST  E1NK   OF   A  CURIOUS    CHAIN.  267 

sand  dollars  to  invest  in  a  gold-mine  in  British  Colum- 
bia. He  began  by  reproaching  me  for  breaking  up  that 
Connecticut  scheme ;  he  told  me  that  I  prevented  him 
from  realizing  ten  times  what  he  wanted  to  invest. 
Then  he  asked  for  the  moderate  sum  of  five  thousand 
for  the  mine.  I  refused,  because  I  doubted  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  men  who  were  organizing  the  company. 
When  he  found  that  he  could  do  nothing  with  me,  he 
sent  his  wife  to  try  and  get  it  for  him.  I  explained 
my  views  of  the  matter  to  her,  and  told  her,  much  more 
gently  than  I  had  him,  that  I  could  not  do  it.  Then 
she  spoke  of  sacrificing  all  for  a  little  peace,  and  I  had 
to  become  very  stern  and  determined  with  her,  afraid  I 
might  give  in  to  her  tears.  I  said  that  ten  thousand  a 
year,  besides  what  he  made  in  his  business,  was  quite 
enough  to  buy  peace,  and  that  he  should  be  satisfied 
with  squandering  that  amount.  I  did  not  think  that 
he  had  a  right  to  complain,  since  he  had  never  saved  a 
sixpence  during  his  married  life." 

"  And  you  found  strength  to  resist  her  ?  "  I  said. 

"Yes;  when  it  became  a  question  of  conscience 
whether  every  thing  she  owned  should  slip  through 
my  fingers,  I  grew  firm." 

"  And  the  gold-mine,"  I  asked  ;  "  how  has  that  turned 
out?" 

"  Just  as  usual.  The  cashier  suddenly  disappeared 
with  all  the  funds,  and  the  shareholders  were  left  to 
whistle  for  their  money.  I  think  there  was  quite  a 
sum  collected,  thirty  or  forty  thousand  dollars.  It 


268  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

proved  a  mine  to  him,  at  least,  and  he  worked  it  suc- 
cessfully. Belle  came  to  me  when  she  heard  of  it,  put 
her  arms  around  my  neck,  and  told  me  I  was  a  wise 
man." 

"  And  Mr.  Hammond,"  I  asked  ;  "  how  is  he  ?  " 

Mr.  Masters  laughed  heartily. 

"  Very  well  in  health,  and  very  poor  in  pocket.  He 
has  been  Lecount's  shadow  the  whole  winter.  Accord- 
ing to  his  own  story,  he  lost  heavily  in  that  gold-mine 
scheme,  and  that,  added  to  some  previous  losses,  has 
affected  his  financial  affairs  very  much.  His  name  was 
among  the  list  of  shareholders  for  a  large  amount,  but 
I  don't  think  he  ever  paid  a  cent  into  the  treasurer's 
hands.  He  almost  lives  in  Lecount's  house,  and  Belle 
is  tired  of  his  constant  society.  He  never  comes  here ; 
I  keep  those  notes  of  his  for  an  antidote.  The  idea  of 
a  man,  not  able  to  take  up  his  own  paper,  investing  in 
such  a  speculation  !  Any  one  but  Claude  Lecount  would 
see  that  the  fellow  is  a  complete  humbug." 

"  Is  the  little  boy  well  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  very  well.  That  reminds  me  of  another  thing 
that  I  want  you  to  do  for  me.  Belle  has  had  a  cough 
all  the  time  since  she  came  home  from  Newport ;  they 
went  there  after  leaving  your  place  last  summer.  Will 
you  call  on  her  with  Mrs.  Masters  before  you  return 
home,  and  tell  me  what  you  think  of  her  ?  You  will 
judge  better  than  any  one  of  the  state  of  her  health. 
It  gives  me  a  great  deal  of  uneasiness." 

I  consented,  and  the  next  morning  Mrs.  Masters 


FIEST   LINK   OF   A   CUEIOUS   CHAIN.  269 

and  I  called  on  Mrs.  Lecount.  The  house  was  quite 
near  Mr,  Masters',  in  a  very  pretty  cross-street.  We 
were  shown  into  a  large,  dark  parlor,  with  an  arch  and 
columns  in  the  centre,  and  glass  doors  closing  off  the 
dining-room  beyond.  Although  nearly  eleven  o'clock, 
there  was  a  sound  of  knives  and  forks  rattling  on  plates 
coming  from  it,  mingled  with  laughter  and  conver- 
sation. 

Mrs.  Masters  gave  me  an  expressive  look  as  she  seated 
herself  on  a  sofa,  but  made  no  observation  whatever.  A 
servant  came  and  opened  a  blind  to  let  in  more  light ; 
then  she  drew  a  heavy  curtain  across  the  glass  doors, 
that  deadened  the  sounds  from  the  dining-room,  and  left 
us,  saying  that  Mrs.  Lecount  would  be  down  in  a  few 
minutes.  I  had  ample  time  to  admire  the  costly  furni- 
ture and  exquisite  ornaments  with  which  the  room  was 
adorned.  Every  thing  denoted  wealth  combined  with 
refined  taste.  There  was  none  of  that  stiffness  observ- 
able, so  common  in  many  handsome  rooms,  making 
them  look  as  if  they  were  fitted  up  and  kept  for  show. 
Here  every  thing  was  easy,  and  had  the  appearance  of 
being  used  with  appreciation  and  enjoyment.  Some 
pieces  of  brilliant  needle-work  were  scattered  on  an  or- 
namental writing-table  near  where  I  sat,  together  with 
a  half-finished  letter.  A  basket  full  of  envelopes,  di- 
rected in  a  small,  elegant  hand,  attracted  Mrs.  Masters' 
attention,  and  drew  from  her  an  exclamation  of  wonder. 

"  Another  party  this  winter,  and  she  in  such  poor 
health !  Belle  must  be  losing  her  reason." 


270  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

A  light  step  on  the  stairs,  and  Mrs.  Lccount  entered, 
with  a  bright  smile  of  pleasure  on  her  face. 

"  You  must  excuse  my  keeping  you  so  long,  but  I 
was  asleep  when  you  came  in,"  she  said,  at  the  same 
time  throwing  wide  open  the  blinds,  and  letting  the 
dazzling  sunlight  into  the  room.  "  I  coughed  so  much 
all  night  that  I  was  quite  unable  to  rise  this  morning  at 
my  usual  hour.  Mr.  Lecount  has  a  breakfast-party,  as 
I  suppose  you  can  guess,  and  Pauline  had  to  take  my 
place  at  the  head  of  the  table.  However,  that  is  a  duty 
that  I  don't  regret ;  I  generally  resign  in  her  favor  when 
I  can  with  reason." 

She  spoke  gayly,  and  delight  at  seeing  us  had  sent  a 
happy  glow  over  her  face,  and  an  added  brightness  to  her 
eyes.  Her  cheeks  were  pink  with  excitement,  and  the 
rich  masses  of  her  hair  were  disposed  so  as  to  hide  their 
thin,  wasted  appearance.  She  drew  her  breakfast-shawl 
around  her  with  a  slight  shiver,  and  sat  where  the  sun- 
beams fell  full  upon  her. 

"Pauline  tells  me  that  the  carpet  is  fading  in  this 
particular  corner,  because  I  am  so  fond  of  letting  in  the 
sunlight.  But  I  love  to  feel  it  shining  on  me ;  it  makes 
me  warm  and  gay — don't  you  like  it,  Mrs.  Masters  ?  " 

"  I  do,  indeed,  and  with  me  the  carpet  would  have 
to  give  way.  This  is  your  favorite  corner,  I  know.  I 
see  you  have  been  busy  with  invitations  again." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Lecount  wanted  another  party ;  so  I  pro- 
posed having  it  before  Lent  began.  It  will  be  quite 
large,  and  I  dread  it  already. — You  must  give  me  some- 


FIRST   LINK   OF   A   CUEIODS   CHAIN.  271 

thing  that  will  cure  ray  cold  before  it  takes  place,"  she 
said,  turning  to  me. 

At  the  same  moment  she  commenced  coughing  ter- 
ribly, and  it  was  some  time  before  she  recovered  suffi- 
ciently to  go  on  with  her  explanation. 

Then  I  listened  while  she  and  Mrs.  Masters  discussed 
the  matter.  With  her,  it  was  all  throughout,  "  Pauline 
thinks  this  " — or,  "  Mr.  Lecount  says  that."  It  was 
evident  that  she  had  little  to  do  writh  the  affair,  except 
naming  the  one  proviso,  that  it  should  not  occur  during 
Lent.  That  subject  finished,  she  suddenly  turned  the 
conversation  away  from  herself,  and  talked  about  my 
home  and  family  with  an  eagerness  that  showed  what  a 
large  share  of  her  heart  they  possessed. 

She  seemed  to  fear  my  observation  of  her,  and  for 
that  reason  affected  a  gayety  of  manner  quite  unusual 
to  her.  I  noticed  the  alteration  in  her,  that  was  fretting 
Mr.  Masters,  but  I  knew  that  to  remark  on  it  to  her 
would  do  more  harm  than  good.  Her  little  boy  was 
out  walking,  and  she  wished  us  to  remain  to  dinner,  so 
as  to  see  him.  Mrs.  Masters  excused  herself  on  the  plea 
of  her  husband's  health ;  and  I  declined,  because  I  in- 
tended leaving  for  home  that  afternoon.  Our  visit  was 
not  interrupted ;  when  we  left  her,  the  breakfast-party 
was  still  at  the  table.  Before  going,  I  asked  her,  laugh- 
ingly, if  she  meant  what  she  had  said,  about  giving  her 
a  remedy  for  her  cold.  She  replied,  in  the  same  tone, 
that  she  was  serious,  and  had  been  waiting  with  the 
hope  of  seeing  me  before  doing  any  thing  to  relieve  it. 


272  DK.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

I  wrote  her  a  long  prescription,  and  left  it  with  a  strict 
charge  to  follow  its  directions  implicitly.  She  promised, 
and  Mrs.  Masters  added  gravely— 

"  Do  it  for  Arthur's  sake/' 

Mrs.  Lecount  colored  at  the  words;  then  pressing 
Mrs.  Masters'  hand,  she  said,  quietly,  "  You  may  trust 
to  me." 

"  Was  there  any  necessity  for  that  last  injunction  ?" 
I  asked  Mrs.  Masters,  as  we  walked  down  the  street. 

"  Surely  you  must  have  observed  the  difference  in 
Belle,"  she  replied.  "  Did  you  not  notice  the  apathy 
and  coolness  that  came'  over  her  when  speaking  of  her 
husband  ?  There  is  some  trouble  between  them.  I  can 
detect  desperation  in  her  carelessness  as  to  her  own 
health.  I  hope  that  what  I  said  may  affect  her.  Mr. 
Masters  is  not  as  observing  as  I  am ;  women  naturally 
see  little  things  that  men  would  attach  no  importance 
to.  I  never  speak  of  this  to  my  husband — he  frets 
enough  about  her  as  it  is.  He  thinks  that  her  health  is 
failing  on  account  of  her  natural  delicacy  of  constitu- 
tion, and  that  sometimes  Claude's  rash  speculations  give 
her  anxiety.  I  know  that  there  is  some  deeper  and 
closer  cause  for  the  indifference  to  each  other  that  I 
have  so  often  remarked.  You  heard  her  to-day,  when 
she  said  that  she  always  resigned  her  seat  to  Pauline 
when  she  could  do  it  with  reason.  It  is  not  the  first 
time  that  I  have  known  her  to  remain  in  her  own  room 
while  her  husband  was  entertaining  his  friends  down- 
stairs. Sometimes  I  think  that  Pauline's  constant  pres- 


FIRST  LINK   OF   A   CURIOUS   CHAIN.  273 

ence  in  the  house  has  had  a  bad  influence  on  both  of 
them,  although  it  would  be  impossible  to  say  in  what 
manner." 

"  It  is  strange  to  me  that  Miss  Pauline  is  still  un- 
married— she  is  so  very  handsome  and  attractive,"  I 
said,  musingly. 

"  I  feel  sure  that  it  is  her  own  fault.  She  has  had 
three  brilliant  winters,  you  may  say  four,  in  New  York, 
with  every  advantage  possible.  I  know  that  several 
very  eligible  gentlemen  have  paid  her  marked  atten- 
tion, and  it  often  surprises  both  Mr.  Masters  and  me, 
how  she  remains  so  indifferent  to  them." 

"  She  is  at  least  not  mercenary,"  I  said.  "  For  it  is 
well  known  among  us  that  her  father  is  in  very  moderate 
circumstances.  I  think  her  conscientiousness  is  to  be 
admired." 

"It  is,  most  certainly.  Mr.  Masters  was  afraid  at 
one  time  that  Mr.  Hammond  might  succeed  in  gaining 
her  affections,  but  I  noticed  that  he  was  quite  devoted 
to  Belle,  and  neglected  Pauline  altogether.  Mr.  Masters 
inferred  that  Pauline's  want  of  fortune  was  the  drawback, 
as  he  is  persuaded  that  Mr.  Hammond  is  a  mere  fortune- 
hunter.  Belle  detests  the  man,  in  spite  of  his  devotion 
and  cultivation  ;  and  as  for  that  Mr.  Hunter,  she  keeps 
her  room  whenever  he  happens  into  the  house." 

"  It  is  well  she  has  her  child  to  occupy  her  mind  and 
time.  He  must  be  quite  a  pet  of  yours  ?  "  I  said. 

"  He  is  a  pet  with  everybody — except,  perhaps,  his 
father.  Claude  declares  that  he  likes  children  when 
12* 


274:  DK.    "WTLMEH'S   LOVE. 

they  are  old  enough  to  talk  to  and  reason  with,  but  he 
hates  babies.  I  think  his  careless  way  of  treating  Ar- 
thur pains  Belle  more  than  she  cares  to  say.  She  is  al- 
most too  fond  and  indulgent.  He  is  cross  and  fault-find- 
ing beyond  reason.  She  makes  an  idol  of  Arthur,  and 
tries  to  keep  him  a  baby  by  her  side,  to  be  nursed  and 
petted  every  hour  in  the  day.  Claude  wants  to  make  a 
little  man  of  him  at  once.  I  think  he  would  like  to  do 
away  with  his  childhood  and  boyhood  altogether,  and 
have  Arthur  a  precocious  young  gentleman,  able  to  un- 
derstand speculations,  and  the  rise  and  fall  of  stocks. 
He  insists  on  sending  for  him,  to  entertain  these  friends 
of  his,  by  showing  off  the  old-fashioned  manner  and 
expressions  that  he  himself  has  put  into  the  child's  head 
against  his  wife's  wishes.  To  see  that  little  fellow  stand- 
ing up  in  a  room  full  of  people,  all  addressing  remarks 
to  him  far  beyond  his  comprehension,  just  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  hearing  his  shrewd,  queer  answers  !  He  has  a 
wonderful  talent  for  arithmetic,  and  his  father  takes  the 
greatest  delight  in  asking  him  questions  that  tax  his  abil- 
ity to  the  utmost  extent.  Belle  is  justly  annoyed  with 
it,  and  one  night  she  put  the  little  fellow  asleep  early, 
hoping  he  would  escape  the  usual  exhibition  of  his  pre- 
cocity. We  were  there  at  the  time,  and  I  congrat- 
ulated myself  when  I  heard  that  Arthur  was  safe  in  his 
crib,  and  that  we  would  escape  the  infliction  of  his  sharp- 
ness and  his  father's  silliness  for  one  night.  Judge  of 
our  surprise  when  his  nurse  brought  him  into  the  room, 
rubbing  his  eyes  that  were  half  shut  with  sleep  and  red 


FIRST   LINK   OF   A   CUKIOUS   CHAIN.  275 

with  crying !  His  judicious  father  had  insisted  on  hav- 
ing him  awakened  and  dressed." 

"  No  wonder  Mrs.  Lecount  feels  anxious.  He  will 
ruin  the  child,"  I  said. 

"  Then  these  parties.  They  cost  immense  sums  of 
money,  and  she  has  given  several  already  this  winter. 
Not  that  Mr.  Masters  objects  to  them  on  the  score  of  ex- 
pense, though  that  is  bad  also.  He  thinks  it  all  wrong  in 
view  of  the  present  dreadful  condition  of  the  country. 
Property  is  depreciating,  and  things  become  more  unset- 
tled every  day.  He  anticipates  the  worst,  because  he 
meets  with  so  many  men  from  different  sections  of  the 
country,  and  from  the  tone  of  their  conversation  he  says 
that  civil  war  is  certain.  He  was  saying  last  night  that 
he  would  like  to  arrange  his  affairs  and  buy  a  place  up 
near  you,  where  he  could  enjoy  the  remainder  of  his  life 
in  country  pursuits.  I  think  he  will  do  it  if  every 
thing  goes  right  with  Belle,  but  not  unless  that  is 
the  case,  for  he  has  made  up  his  mind  to  stay  near  her 
always." 

I  thought  over  all  that  had  been,  said  to  me  the  night 
before  while  Mrs.  Masters  talked  of  Belle  and  her  pros- 
pects. I  concluded  to  accept  Mr.  Masters'  proposal,  and 
I  was  repaid  for  my  assent  to  it,  by  the  improvement 
that  the  taking  of  this  care  off  his  mind  made  in  his 
health. 

He  wrote,  a  few  days  after  my  return  home,  to  say 
thnt  lie  was  again  able  to  go  out,  and  that  "  Belle  was 
much  better,"  owing  to  my  good  advice.  The  clays 


276  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

went  over,  and  the  public  troubles  increased.  Private 
misfortunes  were  forgotten  in  view  of  the  fearful  danger 
menacing  the  republic.  Opinions  were  divided ;  people 
talked  of  faults  on  both  sides.  Union  and  secession 
meetings  were  held  in  the  same  State.  The  people  in 
the  South  went  on  with  their  preparations  deliberately 
and  systematically,  and  State  after  State  passed  the 
ordinance  of  secession.  The  people  in  the  North 
watched  and  waited  as  if  viewing  a  spectacle,  and 
asked  each  other,  "What  next?"  The  government 
seemed  to  be  paralyzed.  Political  demagogues  of  all 
parties  stood  confounded  before  the  coming  terror, 
which  the  unrestrained  .expression  of  their  own 
prejudices  had  evoked. 

Citizens  of  foreign  countries,  amassing  fortunes  in 
our  midst,  sneered  at  the  troubles  of  the  laud  that  sup- 
ported them,  and  taunted  us  with  the  instability  of  our 
boastful  republic.  Commercial  failures  were  taking 
place  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  There  was  a  feeling 
of  insecurity  abroad ;  people  wondered  and  questioned 
on  whom  to  depend.  The  President  was  inaugurated 
under  threats  of  assassination.  The  Confederates  con- 
tinued to  possess  themselves  of  the  government  prop- 
erty in  the  seceding  States,  with  little  or  no  opposition. 
It  was  felt  that  something  was  needed  to  unite  the  dis- 
cordant elements  in  the  North,  before  any  decided  steps 
could  be  taken  by  the  Executive.  That  something  came 
at  last :  Sumter  was  fired  on — Americans  attempted  to 
lower  their  own  flag,  and  trample  it  under  foot.  Then 


FffiST  LINK   OF   A   CDKIOUS   CHAIN.  277 

came  the  uprising  of  the  North.  Party  feelings  and 
differences  were  forgotten.  The  whole  country  was  in 
danger;  State  questions  were  left  for  another  time.  Men, 
who  had  not  spoken  for  years  on  account  of  some  pri- 
vate trouble,  were  ready  to  march  side  by  side  for  the 
defence. of  their  common  country.  The  President's  call 
for  troops  to  uphold  the  government,  and  preserve  the 
integrity  of  the  Union,  was  answered  nobly  and  without 
delay.  This  action  restored  confidence ;  people  felt  that 
there  was  some  effort  necessary,  and  they  were  willing 
to  make  it,  if  only  by  so  doing  they  might  restore  the 
former  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  republic. 

Meetings  were  held  and  speeches  made.  Companies 
were  formed  and  drilled  in  every  village  of  the  land. 
The  governor  was  besieged  by  candidates  for  appoint- 
ments. The  whole  country  was  in  a  state  of  unpar- 
alleled excitement.  The  ladies,  not  to  be  behindhand, 
were  forming  societies  for  knitting  stockings  and  scra- 
ping lint.  One  evening  I  found  my  mother  surrounded 
by  bundles  of  old  linen  which  she  was  assorting,  and 
my  sister  busy  winding  yarn.  Miss  Marie  and  about 
a  dozen  other  young  ladies  belonging  to  the  neighbor- 
hood were  in  the  room  assisting  her.  I  had  come  to  be 
regarded  as  quite  a  middle-aged  gentleman  by  the 
young  people  about  me,  and  the  exclamation,  "  It's 
only  the  doctor  ! "  was  not  new  to  me.  It  was  evident 
that  they  expected  some  one  else ;  so  I  nodded  in  return 
for  the  smiles  they  threw  me  in  a  patronizing  way,  and 
was  immediately  requested  to  hold  a  skein  of  wool  on 


278  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

my  hands  while  one  of  my  bright  young  friends  wound 
it  into  a  huge  ball. 

"  We  were  expecting  Victor,"  Miss  Marie  said,  turn- 
ing to  me.  "  He  went  to  Albany  yesterday." 

"Any  thing  the  matter?"  I  asked,  wearily,  for  I 
was  exhausted  with  a  long  day's  work. 

My  sister  looked  up — 

"He  is  raising  a  company  for  an  Albany  regiment, 
and  expects  to  receive  his  commission  very  soon." 

"Isn't  he  patriotic,  Dr.  Wilmer ?"  asked  the  young 
lady  whose  wool  I  was  holding — Miss  Susie  Williams 
by  name,  a  pretty  girl,  and  quite  a  belle  among  us. 

"  He  is,  very." 

"  How  dull  it  will  be  when  the  company  goes  away  ! 
Nearly  every  family  is  represented  in  it.  The  two 
Johnsons  are  going.  Mrs.  Johnson  says  she  feels  more 
reconciled  to  their  departure  since  they  are  together; 
each  will  look  after  the  other  in  case  any  thing  should 
happen."  • 

My  sister's  last  clause  brought  sad  looks  into  the 
bright  faces  bending  over  the  work-table,  and  I  saw 
Miss  Marie  brush  away  some  tears  quickly,  as  if  afraid 
that  showing  them  would  be  unpatriotic  and  cowardly. 

"I  don't  think  there  will  be  much  fighting,  do 
you?"  asked  Miss  Susie  again. 

"  I  think  there  will  be  a  great  deal,"  I  answered, 
slowly,  making  up  my  mind  as  I  went  along.  In  fact, 
the  question  had  never  before  presented  itself  to  ray 
serious  consideration.  The  events  of  each  day,  as  it 


FIRST   LINK   OF   A   CURIOUS   CHAIN.  279 

passed,  had  been  sufficient  for  the  thoughts  to  dwell  upon. 
After  tea,  the  elder  Mr.  Lecount  came  in  with  several 
others,  and  while  they  discussed  the  latest  news,  the 
young  ladies  worked  away  busily,  listening  with  atten- 
tion to  the  interesting  theme.  Victor  Lecount  had  not 
returned  yet,  owing  to  the  press  of  business  at  the 
capital.  According  to  his  letter,  there  were  more  can- 
didates than  positions,  and  he  feared  refusal. 

At  last  he  returned  in  triumph,  and,  after  a  short, 
hurried  preparation,  he  took  his  company  to  Albany, 
where  they  would  join  the  regiment.  We  saw  them 
off,  with  music  playing,  colors  flying,  and  the  people 
cheering.  How  gay  and  bright  they  looked  in  their 
fresh  uniforms  and  equipments !  What  noble  emotions 
filled  their  breasts,  and  what  brave,  bright  smiles  played 
over  the  young  faces !  Disinterested  and  courageous, 
they  only  thought,  "  Our  country  is  in  danger;  she  has 
protected  us.  If  she  falls,  what  are  we  ?  Shall  we  not 
fight  for  her,  and  if  need  be  die  that  she  may  live  ? 
What  are  our  lives,  compared  to  the  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands that  shall  be  after  us  ?  We  will  leave  to  them  the 
heritage  bequeathed  to  us  by  men  who  suffered  as  we 
expect  to  suffer."  How  sweet  the  flowers  were  that 
women,  young  and  old,  threw  to  them  as  they  passed ! 
How  many  bright  eyes  grew  dim  and  blinded  with 
tears !  How  many  different  emotions  did  they  spring 
from — tears  of  joy,  of  pride,  of  heart-felt  love  of  coun- 
try— tears  of  sorrow  !  Could  mothers  be  blamed  if 
Badness  mingled  in  the  many  feelings  agitating  them  as 


280  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

they  prepared  their  sons  for  the  war,  and  ended  in  bitter 
tears  of  anguish  at  the  moment  of  separation  ?  As  the 
regiment  disappeared  in  the  distance,  Mrs.  Lecount, 
who  was  standing  near  me,  fainted  away.  She  had 
kept  up  her  courage  and  smiling  face  until  the  last  line 
of  men  had  passed ;  then  the  firmness  and  self-control 
that  she  had  exhibited  during  the  past  few  weeks  gave 
way,  and  she  sank  into  her  husband's  arms  with  a  low, 
gasping  moan.  We  were  all  asking  ourselves  the  same 
question  that  had  overcome  her  in  contemplating  it. 

"  How,  and  when,  will  they  return  ?  " 

We  heard  regularly  of  the  regiment's  progress  tow- 
ard Washington,  and  the  stocking-knitting  went  on 
with  renewed  energy,  while  the  letters  from  our  young 
heroes  were  read  aloud  to  the  assembled  society  amidst 
tears  of  joy  and  pride. 

Toward  the  end  of  June  I  rode  home  one  evening 
with  my  appointment  as  surgeon  in  a  New  York  volun- 
teer regiment  in  my  pocket.  I  had  been  thinking  of 
taking  such  a  step  for  some  time,  considerations  of  my 
home  duties  alone  withholding  me.  A  conversation,  be- 
tween some  neighbors  just  returned  from  New  York,  at 
last  decided  the  question  for  me.  They  spoke  of  the 
extreme  youtlj  and  consequent  inexperience  of  the 
young  doctors  that  were  then  receiving  appointments, 
many  of  them  having  just  obtained  their  diplomas. 
They  gave,  as  a  reason  for  this,  the  unwillingness  of 
physicians  of  reputation  to  resign  their  positions  and 
home  comforts  for  the  hardships  and  small  pay  of  an 


FIEST  LINK   OF   A   CDEIOUS   CHAIN.  281 

army  doctor.  Our  town  was  well  supplied  with  medical 
men,  most  of  whom  had  large  families.  I  remembered, 
with  some  bitterness,  that  I  had  neither  wife  nor  child 
to  prevent  me  from  giving  my  services  to  my  country. 
Besides,  I  had  felt  restless  and  discontented  for  some 
months,  and,  strange  to  say,  no  sooner  was  my  commis- 
sion safe  in  my  pocket,  than  a  sensation  of  perfect  relief 
and  peace  came  over  me.  I  felt  that  I  was  doing  right. 

When  I  put  the  paper  before  my  sister,  she  under- 
stood its  purport  instinctively;  she  had  been  watching 
me  closely  for  weeks,  reading  my  doubts,  yet  afraid  of 
alluding  to  the  subject  of  them.  She  rose  without  a 
word,  and,  throwing  her  arms  around  me,  laid  her  head 
against  my  shoulder  and  cried,  silently.  My  mother 
coming  in,  stood  for  a  moment  surprised  at  our  position, 
then  she  threw  a  quick  glance  about  the  room,  and  saw 
the  folded  paper  on  the  table. 

"John,  John,  you  are  not  going  to  leave  me!"  I 
heard  her  exclaim,  and  she  stretched  out  her  arms  im- 
ploringly. 

I  caught  her  in  my  own  and  kissed  her,  unable  to 
answer  her  question. 

"  John  is  right,  I  am  proud  of  him,"  my  sister  said, 
bravely  coming,  as  of  old,  to  my  assistance. 

"  I  suppose  I  must  not  be  the  only  selfish  mother  in 
the  place,"  she  said,  at  last,  after  we  had  talked  the 
matter  and  its  necessity  over  to  her.  In  the  end  she 
kissed  me,  and  bade  me  go,  with  her  blessing. 

My  arrangements  were  soon  completed,  my  trunk 


282  DR.  WTLMEE'S  LOVE. 

was  packed  so  full  of  little  comforts  made  by  loving 
hands,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I  succeeded  in 
locking  it.  My  mother  and  sister  accompanied  me  to 
the  cars ;  I  can  remember  yet  the  appearance  of  every 
thing  within  and  outside  the  house  on  that  day.  As 
AVC  were  leaving  it,  my  sister  drew  me  to  a  large  mirror 
in  the  parlor,  and  laughingly  demanded  how  I  liked 
myself  in  a  uniform.  Then  she  pulled  my  cap  on  one 
side  to  give  it  an  airy  appearance,  and  lovingly  stroked 
the  dark  hair  beneath  it.  I  had  grown  strong  and  mus- 
cular, owing  to  the  amount  of  riding  and  walking  that 
I  did  in  the  open  air,  and  my  black  beard  and  mustache 
gave  me  quite  the  look  of  a  stage  brigand,  according  to 
my  sister. 

It  was  a  lovely  June  afternoon,  the  roses  and  wood- 
bine were  in  full  bloom  ;  there  had  been  a  slight  shower 
in  the  morning,  and  the  rain-drops  yet  glistened  like 
diamonds  on  the  soft  petals  of  the  flowers.  The  air  was 
Hear,  the  sky  blue,  the  landscape  fresh  and  bright  in  its 
tints  of  varied  green.  Bees  hummed  over  the  honey- 
laden  plants,  birds  sang  and  chirped  in  the  trees,  and 
small  colonies  of  ants  were  gathered  in  the  garden-path, 
carrying  away  their  winter  store.  I  stood  for  a  moment 
at  the  gate,  to  give  one  eager  look  at  the  dear  home  that 
I  might  never  see  again. 

At  the  station  we  were  greeted  by  many  friends 
who  had  come  to  see  me  off,  and  wish  me  success  and  a 
safe  return.  Before  we  had  said  half  that  was  intended, 
the  whistle  Avas  blown,  and  the  next  moment  I  had 


FIRST  LINK  OF  A  CURIOUS  CHAIN.  283 

kissed  the  tears  from  my  mother's  eyes,  and  was  in  my 
seat,  gazing  at  the  bright  faces  on  the  platform,  while 
the  cars  moved  off  amid  the  usual  noisy  confusion. 

I  had  given  myself  a  day  to  spend  with  Mr.  Masters, 
not  having  as  yet  informed  him  of  my  changed  position. 
I  knew  that  he  would  be  astonished,  but,  aware  of  his 
patriotism,  I  felt  sure  of  his  approbation.  During  that 
ride  I  reflected  a  great  deal  on  my  past  life,  and  its 
one  bitter  disappointment — a  disappointment  that  I  had 
never  completely  recovered  from.  At  times,  it  required 
all  the  self-control  that  I  was  capable  of  exercising,  to 
overcome  the  strong  emotions  awakened  by  its  recollec- 
tion. I  had  determined  to  conquer  myself,  but  the  effort 
cost  me  dear.  I  could  despise  myself  for  allowing  such 
a  passion  to  master  me  in  the  face  of  such  perfect 
indifference  on  the  part  of  its  object.  I  felt  that  I  had 
sacrificed  the  best  years  of  my  life,  first  by  indulging  in 
a  bright  hope,  and  afterward  by  regretting  bitterly  Jj 
non-fulfilment.  Even  while  endeavoring  to  forget 
object  of  my  love,  the  thought  of  replacing  her  by  an- 
other never  entered  my  mind.  The  shrine  might  be 
empty,  but  the  place  of  its  former  image  was  filled  with 
sweet  memories.  It  seemed  to  me  that,  feeling  as  I  did, 
love  offered  to  another  would  have  been  perjury  and  a 
mockery. 

"When  I  reached  Mr.  Masters'  house  late  that  night. 
I  heard  that  he  and  his  wife  were  out  of  town.  They 
were  at  a  pretty  watering-place,  within  a  few  hours'  ride 
of  New  York,  and  I  determined  to  follow  them  there. 


•  its 
tlio 


284:  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

I  would  have  a  short  time  to  remain  with  them,  and  it 
was  well  worth  the  trouble  of  going. 

I  started  early  the  next  morning,  after  a  refreshing 
sleep  in  Mr.  Masters'  comfortable  house,  and  arrived 
safe  at  the  hotel  to  which  I  had  been  directed  by  the 
servant.  The  clerk  told  me  that  Mr.  Masters  had  taken 
his  wife  for  the  day  to  visit  some  friends  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. Here  was  another  disappointment.  I  made 
up  my  mind  to  wait  until  evening,  if  I  only  had  an  hour 
to  spend  in  their  company. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE   CHAIN    IS    LENGTHENED. 

THE  place  was  full  that  season.  "Every  hotel 
crowded,"  the  clerk  told  me.  I  thought  of  going  to  the 
different  houses  with  the  hope  of  meeting  a  friend  with 
whom  I  could  pass  a  few  of  the  hours  until  evening.  So 
I  wandered  around  until  dinner-time,  but  without  suc- 
cess. Among  all  the  groups  of  gayly  dressed  people 
loitering  on  the  piazzas,  in  the  parlors  and  on  the  beach, 
I  saw  no  familiar  face.  Dinner  over,  I  strolled  down  to 
the  water,  and  watched  some  merry  children  clia>ing: 
each  other  along  the  sands,  gathering  shells  and  sea- 
weeds, and  digging  holes  to  entrap  some  little  fish  that 
might  be  left  behind  by  the  retiring  waves.  Their  light 
laughter  and  innocent  prattle  amused  me  greatly,  and  it 
was  nearly  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  I  returned 
to  the  house  to  await  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masters'  arrival. 

The  rooms  and  piazza  were  filled  with  ladies,  prome- 
nading in  their  rich  evening  dresses.  There  was  the  usual 
hum  of  voices,  mingled  with  laughter  and  music.  Old- 
fashioned,  over-dressed  little  girls  glided  about  in  iraita- 


286  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

tion  of  their  elders ;  while  here  and  there  a  nurse  was 
visible,  gathering  her  charges  for  their  early  tea.  As  I 
passed  along,  a  window  opening  on  the  piazza,  from  a 
small  private  parlor,  was  flung  back  hastily,  and  a  lady 
stepped  out,  and  stood  for  a  moment  in  my  way,  gazing 
around  her — a  queenly-looking  woman,  with  flashing 
black  eyes,  and  handsome,  decided  features.  She  was 
•  richly  dressed,  perhaps  too  gayly  for  perfect  taste,  but 
the  brilliant  colors  surrounding  her  contrasted  well  with 
her  heavy  raven  hair  and  clear  olive  complexion.  She 
had  a  crimson  cloak  thrown  over  her  arm,  and  a  soft, 
white  affair  for  her  head,  in  her  hand.  A  look  of  dis- 
appointment came  over  her  face  on  seeing  me,  and  giving 
me  a  searching  glance,  she  swept  past  me,  and  went  slow- 
ly toward  the  more  crowded  part  of  the  piazza.  Farther 
on,  the  place  was  entirely  deserted,  and  a  large  arm-chair 
attracted  my  attention.  "When  I  had  taken  possession 

«t,  I  found  that  the  approach  to  the  house  was  before 
,  and  some  closed  green  shutters  at  my  back.     The 
quiet  around  me  was  remarkable,  considering  the  near- 
ness of  the  busy  throng  I  had  just  passed  through,  and  I 
found  myself  after  a  few  minutes  sinking  into  £  doze. 

It  deepened  into  a  sleep  from  which  I  was  aroused 
by  the  curious  sensation  we  feel  when  real  noises  mingle 
with  our  dreams,  and  appear  to  take  part  in  them.  I 
became  aware  that  there  were  voices  talking,  so  near 
me,  that  the  words  were  perfectly  distinct.  They  were 
raised  and  excited  to  angry  tones,  and  came  from  within 
the  closed  blinds  behind  me. 


THE   CHAIN   IS   LENGTHENED.  287 

"I  tell  you  that  you  are  wrong.  You  shall  not 
go ! "  a  woman's  voice  said. 

"  Let  me  pass ;  you  at  least  have  no  right  to  detain  me," 
was  the  answer,  in  the  low,  rough  tone  of  an  angry  man. 

"  Then  I  shall  assume  the  right,  as  long  as  your  wife 
is  not  able  to  take  her  own  part." 

"Let  me  pass;  I  am  determined  !"  was  the  answer 
again. 

"  You  will  drive  your  wife  into  a  lunatic  asylum,  if 
you  go  on  like  this." 

"  And  it  would  be  the  best  place  for  her.  It's  a  pity 
she  was  ever  taken  out  of  the  one  she  was  in." 

"  Oh,  Claude  ! "  This  exclamation,  in  a  low,  altered 
voice  of  painful  entreaty  and  reproach,  brought  me  to 
my  senses. 

As  I  started  to  my  feet,  surprised  and  shocked,  there 
was  a  slight  struggle  in  the  room  behind  me,  then  a 
door  clapped  violently,  and  I  heard  a  low  moan  am 
suppressed  sobbing  from  the  woman,  whom  I  now  kne\i 
to  be  Miss  Pauline  Lecount.  I  walked  hastily,  over- 
come by  conflicting  fears,  toward  the  crowded  end  of 
the  piazza,  scarcely  knowing  where  I  went,  and  not 
caring  much.  I  was  just  in  time  for  another  scene. 

A  beautiful  little  light  wagon,  drawn  by  a  pair  of 
spirited  young  horses,  was  standing  in  the  road  before 
the  house,  in  sight  of  the  assembled  crowd,  and  various 
remarks,  occasioned  by  its  appearance,  saluted  my  ears. 

"  I  wonder  he  is  not  afraid  of  driving  them  !  they 
look  dangerous ! "  came  from  one  side. 


288  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

"  He  is  a  reckless  sort  of  a  fellow,  anyhow,"  was 
the  answer. 

"  Did  you  see  him  play  last  night  ?  He  must  have 
a  big  pile  somewhere  ! " 

"  Yes,  I  saw  him  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening  ; 
he  was  losing  heavily  then." 

"  He  never  wins.  He  is  too  impatient  and  irritable. 
I  guess  he  only  plays  to  kill  time." 

"  I  think  he  is  killing  his  wife  as  well." 

"  Yes,  she  looks  delicate ;  pretty  little  woman  too. 
Quite  a  contrast  to  Mrs.  Dimon." 

"  Yes,  rather.  I  wonder  what  old  Dimon  can  be 
thinking  of,  letting  his  wife  go  on  as  she  does  ?  " 

"Thinking  of?  Money,  of  course  !  He  knows  she 
can  take  care  of  herself.  All  she  flirts  for  is  amuse- 
ment. She  loses  nothing.  I  don't  think  she  ever  had 
a  heart,  or  knew  what  feeling  meant.  She  delights  in 
tracting  men,  for  the  sake  of  annoying  their  wives, 
bu  should  have  seen  the  look  of  triumph  she  threw 
after  Mrs.  Lecount  last  night  when  she  left  the  room 
unable  to  bear  it  any  longer.  Lecount  was  aware  of  it 
teo,  and  he  positively  sneered  at  his  wife's  mortifica- 
tion. If  I  were  Mrs.  Lecount,  I  wouldn't  remain  here 
another  day." 

"  She  looks  as  if  her  heart  were  breaking.  And  that 
fellow  named  Hammond,  he  hardly  lets  her  out  of  his 
sight.  She  don't  appear  to  like  him,  and  yet  seems 
afraid  of  resenting  his  attentions." 

"  He  is  a  friend  of  her  husband,  and  one  of  Mrs. 


THE   CHAIN  IS    LENGTHENED.  289 

Dimon's  friends  also.  Yesterday  I  came  across  them 
walking  together  in  the  grounds,  and  she  had  her  pock- 
et-book in  her  hand,  and  was  giving  him  money.  Don't 
look  so  incredulous !  I  heard  her  say,  *  You  must  be 
satisfied  with  one  hundred  for  the  present.'  Of  course, 
it  looked  curious,  but  he  may  be  her  brother  for  all  we 
know,  and  might  have  found  himself  hard  up.  They 
are  a  curious  group  certainly,  and  quite  interesting  in 
their  movements." 

"  Here  comes  the  famous  couple  now.     She  looks 
magnificent." 

The  two  gentlemen  pressed  forward  for  a  better  po- 
sition, and  I  followed  them.  Mr.  Lecount  was  leading 
Mrs.  Dimon  toward  the  wagon.  He  looked  handsome, 
but  dissipated  and  reckless.  His  whole  attention  was 
absorbed  by  the  dashing-looking  woman  who  had  so 
fascinated  him.  Having  adjusted  her  cloak  to  her  sat- 
isfaction, he  sprang  to  the  seat  beside  her,  caught 
lines  from  the  attending  groom,  with  a  proud, 
reliant  glance  around  him,  and  the  next  minute  they 
had  disappeared  in  a  cloud  of  dust.  I  had  recognized 
in  Mrs.  Dimon  the  lady  who  had  stepped  from  her  room 
to  the  piazza  a  short  time  before,  and  I  remembered  the 
glance  that  she  had  thrown  around  her,  as  if  expecting 
some  one  to  be  near.  No  doubt  she  had  waited  impa- 
tiently enough  while  the  conversation  that  I  had  over- 
heard passed  between  Mr..Lecount  and  his  sister. 

The  excitement  over,  the  crowd  of  fashionable  loun- 
gers went  in  search  of  another,  and  I  watched  with  anx- 
13 


290  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

iety  every  carriage  that  passed  the  house,  hoping  to  see 
Mr.  Masters'  face  in  one  of  them.  The  secret  of  his 
presence  in  the  hotel  was  now  plain  to  me.  Mrs.  Le- 
count  must  be  indeed  unhappy  when  her  guardian  felt 
it  his  duty  to  remain  so  near  her. 

Later,  at  tea-time,  I  looked  at  the  faces  coming  into 
the  dining-room,  and  afterward  searched  the  rows  of 
people  seated  at  the  long  tables,  but  without  success. 
None  of  the  Lecount  family  were  present.  As  I  left 
the  room,  Mr.  Hammond  was  entering  it  alone.  He 
recognized  me,  and  I  nodded  slightly  in  return  for  his 
salutation,  and  passed  out  silently.  My  heart  was  too 
sore  against  him  and  his  set  to  permit  of  my  speaking 
to  him.  I  felt  that  I  never  wanted  to  lay  my  eyes  on 
the  man  again.  I  returned  to  the  piazza  and  strolled 
impatiently  up  and  down,  endeavoring  to  think  of  some- 
thing pleasant.  I  tried  to  set  before  me  the.  duties  and 
axations  of  the  position  I  was  about  to  occupy,  and 
ng  up  to  my  mind  the  old  tales  of  camp-life  that  I 
had  been  so  fond  of  reading  when  a  boy.  I  remembered 
imagining  myself  in  the  hero's  place,  and  thinking  what 
I  should  have  done  under  the  same  circumstances.  I 
even  tried  to  laugh  heartily,  as  of  old,  over  the  comical 
scenes  and  situations  recounted  in  "  Charles  O'Malley  " 
and  "  Harry  Lorrequer,"  but  without  success.  Try  as  I 
might,  my  thoughts  would  revert  to  the  possible  posi- 
tion and  misery  of  Mrs.  Le^ount,  in  bad  health,  and 
neglected  by  her  husband. 

His  wicked  words,  that  he  had  used  in  speaking  of 


THE   CHAIN   IS   LENGTHENED.  291 

her  to  his  sister,  rang  in  my  brain,  and  roused  in  me 
feelings  that  were  beyond  expression.  I  refrained  from 
walking  near  the  windows  of  their  apartments,  lest  I 
should  hear  more  than  I  cared  to  know.  Pity  for  her, 
and  indignation  against  the  man  who  could  find  it  in 
his  heart  to  ill-treat  her  thus  cruelly  and  openly,  had 
taken  possession  of  me.  I  paced  back  and  forth,  with 
my  strange-feeling  cap  set  tightly  on  my  head,  and  my 
arms  folded  across  my  breast,  with  a  pressure  almost 
painful.  Meanwhile  the  scene  was  changing  ai*ound 
me.  Night  was  falling,  a  storm  was  rising,  and  the 
increasing  dampness  and  chilliness  in  the  air  were  driv- 
ing the  people  in-doors.  Still  Mr.  Masters  did  not  come. 
I  began  to  fear  that  the  stormy  appearance  of  the  sky 
might  prevent  his  return  to  the  hotel  that  night. 

It  being  too  cold  for  pleasure  outside,  a  dance  was 
improvised  in  the  large  parlor,  and  the  crowd  flocked 
in  there.  In  a  very  short  time,  the  ball  was  in  ful] 
progress.  I  continued  my  walk  with  curious  surrouni 
ings.  On  one  side,  a  brilliantly-lighted  room,  filled 
with  richly-dressed  people,  all  apparently  merry-hearted 
and  enjoying  themselves ;  music  playing,  fans  rustling, 
and  couples  whirling  round  and  round  in  the  mazes  of 
the  waltz,  "d  deux  temps"  or  flying  up  and  down  the 
room  in  the  exciting  galop. 

On  the  other  side  the  elements  were  at  work.  The 
stars  were  fast  disappearing  behind  the  gathering  clouds, 
the  wind  was  rising  and  moaning  round  the  corners  of 
the  house.  The  roll  of  the  distant  surf  was  audible,  and 


til 


292  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

gleams  of  lightning,  followed  by  the  long,  low  rumble 
of  thunder,  opened  and  flashed  through  the  thick,  black 
curtain,  settling  down  like  a  pall  over  the  landscape. 
At  last  the  storm  burst,  and  the  heavy  rain  descended 
in  torrents,  with  a  rushing  sound  and  a  force  that  sur- 
passed any  thing  of  the  kind  within  my  recollection. 
The  trees  bent  and  shivered  with  its  fury ;  flower-pots 
were  upset,  and  plants  beaten  to  the  ground.  Now  and 
then  a  gust  of  wind  would  sweep  around  the  house  and 
down  the  avenue,  carrying  before  it  every  thing  that 
lay  in  its  path. 

In  the  midst  of  this  grand  yet  fearful  scene,  the 
window  behind  where  the  arm-chair  stood  was  opened 
noiselessly,  and  a  woman's  form,  muffled  in  a  large 
shawl,  came  out  on  the  piazza.  As  she  stood  for  a 
while  gazing  toward  the  road,  a  flash  of  lightning  lit 
up  the  scene,  and  I  recognized  Miss  Pauline  Lecount. 

the  momentary  glimpse  that  I  had  of  her  face,  I  saw 
at  it  was  colorless  from  fright  and  suspense.  Anxiety 
was  visible  in  every  line  of  it.  She  drew  her  shawl 
across  her  breast  with  a  shudder,  and  began  pacing 
back  and  forth  in  front  of  the  windows  of  their  apart- 
ments. I  resumed  my  weary  promenade,  going  always 
in  the  direction  she  did,  so  that  our  faces  never  once 
met.  At  times  she  would  stop,  bend  her  head  and  lis- 
ten for  the  sound  of  approaching  wheels,  then,  with  a 
sigh  of  disappointment,  take  up  her  monotonous  walk.  • 

For  almost  an  hour  I  listened  to  the  light,  firm  tread 
behind  me,  sounding  like  the  echo  of  my  own  footfalls. 


THE   CHAIN   IS   LENGTHENED.  293 

Then  the  storm  gradually  abated,  until  at  length  the 
rain  ceased,  the  wind  died  away  as  suddenly  as  it  had 
come  up,  and  the  only  noise  outside  was  caused  by  the 
drops  that  fell  from  the  leaves  of  the  swaying  branches 
overhead.  The  moon  and  stars  were  again  visible  be- 
hind the  light,  fleecy  clouds  so  rapidly  disappearing 
from  sight.  We  two  weary  watchers  suddenly  stopped 
short  to  look  at  them,  probably  with  the  same  feeling — 
one  of  thankfulness  in  our  hearts.  At  that  moment  we 
heard -the  noise  of  a  horse's  feet  coming  up  the  road,  and 
Miss  Pauline  bent  forward  eagerly  to  catch  sight  of 
what  was  approaching.  A  rough-looking  man,  short 
and  stout,  came  riding  up  the  avenue  at  a  quick  trot, 
stopped  his  horse  in  front  of  the  house  door,  and  hurried 
into  the  bar-room.  Miss  Pauline  turned  away  with  a 
murmur  of  impatience,  and  I  walked  toward  the  parlor 
windows.  Looking  in  mechanically,  I  saw  the  landlord 
crossing  the  room.  Something  in  his  face,  an  expression*^ 
of  shocked  surprise,  attracted  me,  and  I  followed  him 
with  my  eyes.  He  went  up  to  Mr.  Hammond,  who  was 
bending  over  a  lady,  conversing  earnestly  as  usual,  said 
a  few  words  to  him,  that  brought  a  look  like  his  own 
into  that  gentleman's  face,  and  then  they  hastily  left 
the  room  together.  The  lady,  with  whom  Mr.  Ham- 
mond had  been  talking,  rose  instantly,  and  communi- 
cated the  news  to  a  gentleman  near  by,  and  he  as  hur- 
riedly as  the  others  disappeared  through  the  door. 

I  felt  an  undefined  horror  stealing  over  me,  and  the 
same  influence  seemed  to  be  spreading  through  the  oc- 


294  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

cupants  of  the  parlor.  They  were  collecting  in  little 
groups,  exchanging  ideas  with  eager  faces,  and  in  low 
tones.  In  a  few  moments  the  horseman  came  out  on 
the  piazza,  surrounded  by  an  excited  crowd  of  people. 
They  seemed  to  be  all  talking  at  once,  some  question- 
ing, others  affirming.  Two  of  them  had  stepped  between 
the  man  and  his  horse,  and  were  listening  eagerly  to 
what  he  was  saying.  I  hastened  forward  and  caught 
the  concluding  portion  of  his  story. 

"You  see,  the  wagon  was  just  dashed  to  pieces 
against  the  stone  fence,  and  we  found  the  horses  stand- 
ing quiet,  but  trembling  all  over  with  fright.  The  lady 
don't  know  what  scared  them,  but  it  was  all  done  in  a 
second." 

"How  did  he  fall  ?"  asked  some  one  near  me. 

He  was  pitched  right  over  the  dash-board  on  his 
head.     You  never  saw  such  a  sight." 
^      "  Who  found  him  ?  "  asked  another  gentleman. 

"A  lot  of  us  from  the  house.  The  lady  came  as  fast 
as  she  could,  but  it  was  hard  work  in  the  storm,  and  she 
couldn't  speak  for  some  time  after  she  got  in,  between 
the  wetting  she  had  and  the  fright." 

"How  did  she  escape?" 

"She  crept  out  of  the  back  of  the  wagon,  and  it  go- 
ing at  full  speed,  and  let  herself  drop  by  her  hands." 

"  How  courageous !  Are  you  sure  that  she  belongs 
here?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  she  told  us  her  name,  and  I  can't  remem- 
ber it,  but  I  know  the  gentleman  myself;  he  passed  the 


THE  CHAIN  18  LENGTHENED.  295 

house   every  day  this   month   with   the   same  horses. 
Everybody  around  knew  Mr.  Lecount." 

"  Are  you  sure  he  is  dead  ?  " 

"  Dead !  he  was  stone-dead  before  she  got  to  him. 
The  doctors  know  it  down  at  the  house ;  they  say  he 
died  instantly." 

A  long,  heart-rending  cry,  and  a  gasping  for  breath, 
made  us  turn  around.  There,  behind  us,  with  wild,  star- 
ing eyes  and  a  ghastly  face,  stood  Miss  Pauline  Lecount. 
I  caught  her  as  she  tottered,  and  we  carried  her  into  a 
deserted  little  parlor,  and  applied  restoratives.  She 
struggled  bravely  to  retain  her  consciousness,  and  suc- 
ceeded. 

"  Don't  tell  her,  don't  tell  his  wife  yet,"  she  moaned, 
looking  imploringly  around  her.  I  drew  back,  that  she 
might  not  see  me ;  but,  sitting  up  suddenly,  she  caught 
sight  of  my  face. 

"  You  !  are  you  here  ?  "  she  screamed,  burying  her 
face  in  her  hands,  and  shivering  all  over. 

"  Try  and  control  yourself,"  I  said,  bending  over  her. 
"  Remember  how  many  are  in  the  room." 

She  looked,  up  in  my  face  with  a  mocking  laugh,  and 
muttered  hysterically — 

"And  for  this,  for  this  I  have  sinned!  Oh!  I  am 
rightly  punished." 

.  I  began  to  fear  that  the  shock  was  too  much  for  Miss 
Pauline's  brain,  and  that  she  was  losing  her  reason. 

"  Shall  I  leave  you  ?  "  I  asked,  in  a  low  tone. 

"  Yes,  yes,  go  away ! " 


296  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

Thinking  that  it  might  be  Lest,  I  returned  to  the 
piazza,  leaving  her  in  the  care  of  some  of  the  ladies  be- 
longing to  the  house.  The  group  outside  was  still  col- 
lected, and  as  I  joined  them  a  carriage  stopped  at  the 
door,  and  Mr.  Masters  assisted  his  wife  out  of  it,  and 
led  her  hastily  up  the  steps. 

"  Be  as  quick  as  you  can,  Sallie.  Let  no  one  tell  her 
but  yourself,"  I  heard  him  say  to  her. 

Mrs.  Masters  hurried  along  the  piazza,  and  disap- 
peared through  one  of  the  many  windows  opening  upon 
it.  Her  husband  turned  and  saw  me.  He  looked  again, 
as  if  not  trusting  his  eye-sight,  and  then  grasped  my 
hand. 

"Wilmer,  this  is  a  terrible  affair.  Of  course,  you 
have  heard  it.  Do  you  think  my  wife  was  in  time  ?  I 
thought  we  should  never  get  here." 

I  told  him  what  I  knew,  and  of  Miss  Pauline's  con- 
dition. 

"  But,  how  djd  you  hear  it  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  We  stopped  for  a  light  at  the  other  house,  and  I 
heard  them  all  talking  of  an  accident.  When  they  men- 
tioned Mrs.  Dimon,  I  asked  further,  with  an  idea  that 
the  gentleman  was  slightly  injured,  and  she  not  at  all. 
Judge.. of  my  surprise  when  I  heard  the  truth,  and  real- 
ized  itsriorror !  First,  they  took  me  into  a  room  and 
showed  me — Wilmer,  to  think  that  this  morning  I  left 
Claude  Lecount  looking  as  well  as  he  ever  did  in  his 
life !  Oh,  it  is  fearful !  No  one  would  recognize  him. 
He  fell  with  his  head  striking  a  rock.  Oh,  such  a  sight ! 


THE  CHAIN  18  LENGTHENED.  297 

The  doctors  say  it  was  all  over  in  a  moment.  I  don't 
know  whether  to  be  thankful  or  not.  Sudden  death  is 
always  terrible;  what  must  it  be  where  there  is  no 
preparation  whatever  for  it?" 

"  His  poor  wife ! "  I  said.  "  And  we  can  do  nothing 
to  soften  this  blow." 

The  old  gentleman  wrung  my  hand,  and  sobbed 
aloud. 

"  Wilmer,  pity  me,  when  I  say  from  my  heart  that  I 
firmly  believe,  had  Claude  Lecount  lived  another  year, 
his  wife  would  have  been  in  her  grave  before  the  end 
of  it.  His  ill-treatment  was  killing  her.  You  would 
hardly  know  her  now." 

"  This  will  be  a  fearful  shock,  nevertheless,  and  her 
constitution  is  very  frail." 

"  Yes,  I  know  it,  I  know  it  only  too  well,  but  what 
can  I  do  ?  No  one  realizes  what  she  has  suffered  this 
past  year,  what  misery  of  heart  and  mind.  I  have  seen 
it  in  her  face.  This  will  be  a  deeper  sorrow,  but  if  she 
survives  it  we  will  do  our  best  to  guard  her  from  any 
like  it  in  the  future.  Poor  child,  her  life  seems  fated  to 
be  one  of  unhappiness !  When  will  her  troubles  end  ?  " 

"  Did  you  see  Mrs.  Dimon  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  No,  she  would  not  meet  me.  But  I  know  all  she 
had  to  tell.  When  she  got  out  of  the  wagon,  she  looked 
for  him,  and  found  him  lying  just  as  he  had  fallen, 
quite  dead.  She  went  to  the  nearest  house  as  fast  as 
possible,  and  the  people  there  sent  a  litter  for  him  in 
the  midst  of  all  that  storm,  and  two  doctors,  who  hap- 
13* 


298  DE.  WILMER'S  LOV.E. 

pened  to  be  in  the  hotel,  went  with  it.  They  saw  that 
nothing  could  be  done.  I  have  given  the  necessary 
orders.  He  will  be  taken  home  to-morrow.  It  would 
not  be  right  to  let  his  wife  see  him  in  his  present  condi- 
tion. They  tell  me  that  he  will  look  more  natural  after 
a  day  or  two." 

"  Then  you  will  return  to-morrow  ?  " 
"  Yes,  in  the  afternoon,  if  Belle  is  able  to  go." 
"  How  strange  it  all  appears  !  "  I  said.     "  I  feel  like 
one  in  a  dream." 

"  And  so  you  may ;  events  follow  each  other  so  rap- 
idly now,  that  one  shock  is  scarcely  over  before  another 
comes.  Wilmer,  I  did  like  that  young  man,  and,  in 
spite  of  all  his  faults,  I  never  lost  hope  of  him  till 
within  this  last  year.  Lately,  however,  he  has  been 
perfectly  mad  in  his  recklessness.  If  Mrs.  Dirnon  has  a 
spark  of  feeling  left,  this  night's  work  ought  to  bring  it 
out.  He  is  not  the  first  young  fellow  that  she  has  led 
to  ruin.  If  only  this  might  be  a  warning  to  her,  and 
all  married  flirts  like  her !  " 

"  She  is  a  new  acquaintance,  is  she  not  ?  " 
"  Yes,  Hammond  introduced  him  to  her.  There  is 
some  connection  between  him  and  Mrs.  Diinon.  I  can't 
discover  what  it  is.  Sometimes  I  fancy  that  he  is  her 
brother,  but  her  avoidance  of  him  when  her  husband  is 
present  makes  me  doubt  the  fact.  At  any  rate,  it  was 
Hammond  that  suggested  this  place  to  Claude,  and  Mrs. 
Dimon  was  here  when  we  came.  She  went  to  work  at 
once  to  attract  Lecount,  and  you  see  how  she  succeeded. 


THE   CHAIN   IS    LENGTHENED.  299 

"We  could  not  induce  Belle  to  return  home.  She  insist- 
ed on  remaining  near  her  husband.  Poor  child!  she 
hoped  to  gain  him  in  the  end.  This  is  a  sorrowful  ter- 
mination of  her  short  married  life,  and  it  began  so  bright 
too.  Well,  we  cannot  look  into  the  future ;  we  must  be 
satisfied  with  what  comes,  as  long  as  we  feel  that  we  are 
not  to  blame  in  bringing  the  trouble  on  ourselves.  Poor 
Claude !  he  never  would  realize  the  substantial  means 
for  happiness  and  the  blessings  that  surrounded  him." 
Mrs.  Masters  joined  us  while  we  stood  talking. 

"  How  is  Belle  ?  "  asked  her  husband. 
• 
"I   can't   tell.      She   appears   crushed   and   utterly 

stunned.  If  she  would  only  cry — but  no,  she  just  lies 
quiet,  with  her  eyes  closed,  as  if  thinking.  I  brought 
Arthur  to  her,  but  even  that  did  not  rouse  her.  Pauline 
is  with  her  now ;  poor  girl,  she  controls  herself  wonder- 
fully, and  tries  to  comfort  Belle.  She  wants  to  go  with 
you,  if  you  think  of  returning  to  the  other  hotel  to-night. 
She  says  she  feels  able  to  see  him,  and  I  believe  it  will 
be* better  to  satisfy  her." 

"  Very  well,  then,  I  will  take  her ;  perhaps  it  is  best 
for  Belle  not  to  have  so  many  around  her." 

"  Any  thing  that  might  increase  her  agitation  should 
be  avoided,"  I  said. 

"  Then  I  will  keep  her  as  quiet  as  possible.  But,  Doc- 
tor Wilmer,  I  can  hardly  overcome  my  surprise  at  see- 
ing you  here  among  us.  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 

I  explained  my  unexpected  appearance,  to  their  great 
astonishment.  • 


300  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

"How  long  shall  we  have  you  with  us  ?"  asked  Mr. 
Masters. 

"  Until  five  o'clock  to-morrow  morning.  I  shall  just 
have  time  to  join  the  detachment  I  am  going  with.  Do 
not  mention  my  presence  here  to  Mrs.  Lecount,"  I  said 
to  Mrs.  Masters,  as  she  wished  me  an  affectionate  good- 
by.  "  The  singularity  of  the  fact  will  only  add  to  her 
excitement." 

She  promised,  and,  having  wished  me  success  and  a 
safe  return,  she  left  us,  to  go  back  to  her  charge.  For 
several  hours  Mr.  Masters  and  I  remained  together,  talk- 
ing over  the  events  of  the  day.  About  twelve  o'clock 
Mrs.  Masters  joined  us  in  the  parlor  where  we  sat,  and 
reported  that  Mrs.  Lecount  was  asleep,  and  Miss  Pau- 
line ready  to  accompany  Mr.  Masters.  He  went  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  Mrs.  Masters 
spoke  to  me  about  Belle's  health,  and  the  means  to  be 
taken  for  her  perfect  recovery. 

I  advised  a  removal  to  the  country,  and  a  total  lack 
of  all  excitement.  • 

"I  think  you  are  right,  and,  just  as  quickly  as  it  can 
be  done,  we  will  find  a  pretty  place  somewhere  in  your 
neighborhood  and  remove  to  it.  Mr.  Masters  has  been 
wishing  to  do  so  for  years,  but  we  could  not  make  up 
our  minds  to  leave  New  York  while  Belle  remained 
there." 

"  Mrs.  Lecount  seemed  to  enjoy  country  life  some 
years  ago,"  I  said,  musingly. 

"Yes,  she  has  spoken  always  as  if  it  possessed  the 


THE   CHAIN   IS   LENGTHENED.  301 

greatest  charms  for  her.  Latterly,  too,  she  has  often  re- 
verted to  little  incidents  that  occurred  in  your  mother's 
house,  and  once  she  said,  with  a  sigh,  that  the  years  she 
spent  there  were  the  happiest  of  her  life.  However, 
there  may  be  much  pleasure  in  store  for  her  yet.  She 
is  only  twenty-five  years  of  age — too  young  to  lose  all 
hope,  and  become  tired  of  the  world.  Once  the  shock 
of  this  grief  is  over,  the  elasticity  of  spirit  and  bright- 
ness of  youth  may  return  to  her." 

"  You  are  sure  that  she  has  no  cough  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Quite  sure ;  no,  that  is  not  the  trouble  now.  For 
some  time  past  her  strength  seems  to  have  gradually  de- 
creased. Every  day  she  is  less  inclined  to  make  any 
exertion.  Still,  she  has  persisted  in  doing  what  she  con- 
sidered her  duty.  To  me  she  is  a  complete  enigma.  She 
has  borne  little  annoyances,  too  numerous  to  mention, 
without  a  word  of  complaint.  Since  we  came  here,  no 
insult,  that  could  -\*ound  a  sensitive,  refined  mind,  has 
been  omitted.  Every  indignity  has  been  heaped  upon 
her,  and  yet  nothing  that  we  could  urge  would  induce 
her  to  go  home  with  her  child,  and  leave  her  husband  to 
his  chosen  companions.  Perhaps  we  were  wrong  to 
propose  such  action,  but  he  and  Mrs.  Dimon  took  par- 
ticular pains  to  offend  her,  and  we  felt  that  the  morti- 
fication was  killing  her.  She  has  never  said  a  word  to 
either  of  us  in  reference  to  her  husband's  conduct,  but 
we  could  tell  by  her  appearance  that  his  unkindness 
and  neglect  were  breaking  her  heart.  You  would  hardly 
recognize  in  her  the  bright  young  girl  that  left  your 


302  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

mother's  house  five  years  ago  !  I  can't  remember  when 
I  heard  her  laugh,  and  the  sad  smile  that  she  gives 
Arthur  always  brings  the  tears  into  my  eyes.  If  I  only 
had  the  key  to  all  this  that  seems  so  strange !  Mr. 
Masters  insisted  that  it  all  lay  in  the  fickleness  of  Mr. 
Lecount's  nature.  He  argued  that  Claude's  love  was  a. 
mere  passion,  soon  forgotten,  and  that  the  conviction 
of  its  utter  worthlessness  was  destroying  Belle,  since 
she  had  perfect  faith  in  its  depth  and  sincerity.  I  can- 
not agree  with  him,  and  yet  I  cannot  account  for  the 
trouble  that  certainly  has  weighed  her  down  for  years. 
That  the  marriage  was  an  unhappy  one  is  most  certain ; 
and  that  there  was  a  cause  for  the  misery  they  both 
suffered — some  secret  that  lay  between  the  two — is  my 
firm  belief." 

"  I  cannot  hazard  an  opinion,"  I  said,  in  answer  to 
her  questioning  look.  "  They  seemed  to  be  suited  to 
each  other,  and  she  made  her  own  choice ;  it  is  impos- 
sible for  us  to  account  for  the  change  in  their  mutual 
affection.  From  all  you  say,  I  should  judge  that  the 
fault  was  on  Mr.  Lecount's  side,  and  that  his  wife's  love 
for  him  had  never  wavered.  Her  patience  and  meek 
endui-ance  would  argue  that  she  still  hoped  to  regain 
his  affection." 

"Perhaps  you  are  right.  Still,  your  explanation 
does  not  satisfy  me.  I  think  that  Belle  was  disap- 
pointed, and  I  will  tell  you  why  I  think  so.  For  six 
months  after  they  were  married  every  thing  was  as 
pleasant  and  smooth  as  could  be  desired.  They  were 


THE   CHAIN   IS   LENGTHENED.  303 

like  two  children  together,  unreserved  and  merry  when 
addressing  each  other,  and  apparently  the  utmost  con- 
fidence and  harmony  existing  between  them.  If  that 
condition  of  things  had  died  away  gradually,  I  might 
think  as  you  and  Mr.  Masters  do.  Belle's  feelings  are 
deep  and  strong  as  well  as  impulsive,  and  Claude's 
affection  might  not  answer  all  the  requirements  of  such 
an  apparently  contradictory  temperament.  On  the  con- 
trary, their  unrestrained  gayety  and  evident  pleasure 
in  each  other's  society  ended  suddenly,  and  without 
any  apparent  reason.  That  is  why  I  suspect  a  mystery 
never  confided  to  another.  If  such  a  cause  existed, 
they  were  both  too  proud  to  mention  it." 

"  And  you  remarked  this  alteration  in  them  soon 
after  their  marriage  ?  It  is  strange,  but  there  must  have 
been  a  foundation  for  it,  for  my  sister  noticed  it  at  the 
same  time." 

"  Yes,  and  mentioned  it  to  me,  but  I  was  afraid  to 
acknowledge  its  existence  even  to  myself;  and  I  made 
light  of  her  remarks,  and  tried  to  make  her  believe  that 
she  was  mistaken.  Unfortunately,  she  was  only  too 
correct  in  her  observations.  The  difference  existed  be- 
tween them  then,  and  has  never  been  removed.  I  do 
not  know  what  others  may  have  suspected ;  I  am  sure 
that  Mr.  Masters,  Pauline  and  I  have  been  conscious 
of  their  unhappiness  all  along.  I  hope  for  her  own 
sake,  poor  girl,  that  she  was  not  the  most  in  fault ;  if  so, 
her  grief  will  be  all  the  more  bitter,  and  this  blow  much 
harder."  • 


304  DR.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

"I  will  answer  for  her  truth,"  I  said,  warmly. 
"  Whatever  was  the  trouble,  I  am  sure  that  she  never 
caused  it." 

"  I  sincerely  hope  that  you  are  right.  Her  con- 
scientiousness is  so  great,  that,  if  self-convicted,  her  re- 
morse would  be  lifelong." 

"  I  cannot  believe  that  she  had  any  thing  to  do  with 
it  voluntarily.  This  sorrowful  condition  of  things  has 
been  forced  upon  her ;  she  never  brought  it  on  herself." 

"  Sallie,"  Mr.  Masters  said,  coming  in  hastily,  "  I 
am  all  ready — let  us  go  for  Miss  Pauline. — Wilmer,  I 
shall  see  you  before  you  start." 

Mrs.  Masters  hurried  away,  and  a  few  minutes  after- 
ward Mr.  Masters  passed  the  open  door  with  Miss  Pau- 
line on  his  arm.  I  heard  the  carriage  drive  off  rapidly, 
and  then,  leaving  word  with  a  servant  to  .call  me  in 
time,  I  retired  to  my  room  for  a  few  hours'  sleep. 

At  five  o'clock  the  next  morning  I  found  Mr. 
Masters  pacing  back  and  forth  on  the  piazza,  looking 
worn  and  weary  in  the  clear,  cheerful  light.  He  had 
been  up  all  night,  and  was  only  just  returned  from  his 
sorrowful  visit  to  the  other  hotel.  After  a  few  parting 
words  I  left  him,  promising  to  write  from  Washington? 
which  I  reached  soon  after,  by  way  of  Annapolis. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ANOTHER   LINK,    AND   AN   OLD   FRIEND. 

THE  regiment  to  which  I  belonged  was  stationed  on 
Arlington  Heights,  and,  during  the  few  weeks  that  in- 
tervened between  my  arrival  there  and  the  movement 
of  the  army  toward  Manassas,  I  received  numerous 
letters  from  my  friends  and  family.  Several  changes 
consequent  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Lecount  had  taken 
place.  Young  Mrs.  Lecount  was  lying  very  sick  in  her 
guardian's  house,  where  she  had  been  taken  the  day 
after  her  husband's  funeral.  His  sudden  death,  and  the 
very  unpleasant  circumstances  attending  it,  had  affected 
her  in  a  manner  far  worse  than  was  at  first  anticipated. 
My  mother  and  sister  had  hastened  to  attend  her  at  Mr. 
Masters'  urgent  entreaty,  and  her  continued  illness  was 
causing  them  the  greatest  anxiety,  a  fact  most  visible 
in  the  tone  of  their  letters.  Miss  Pauline  had  returned 
home,  my  sister  wrote,  in  a  sad  state  of  depression,  out 
of  which  her  family  found  it  impossible  to  arouse 
her. 

To  add    to  the  general  gloom,  Mr.   Masters  was 


306  DE.  WLLMEE'S  LOVE. 

shocked  at  the  condition  of  Mr.  Lecount's  affairs.  He 
had  apprehended  more  or  less  trouble  in  regard  to  them, 
and  suspected  the  existence  of  several  heavy  debts,  but 
he  was  utterly  unprepared  for  the  real  facts  of  the  case 
as  they  were  presented  to  him.  He  found  himself  be- 
set by  Mr.  Lecount's  creditors ;  claims  of  the  most 
unforeseen  nature  were  sent  in  to  him,  those  classed 
as  debts  of  honor  being  very  numerous  and  large,  and 
notes  for  heavy  amounts  were  about  being  protested. 
In  his  first  feeling  of  amazement  and  anger,  he  disputed 
them ;  but,  upon  searching  Mr.  Lecount's  papers,  he 
found  that  they  were  only  too  correct. 

Immediate  payment  of  all  these  liabilities  was 
entirely  out  of  the  question,  and  their  gradual  liquida- 
tion in  full,  with  interest,  would  require  nearly  the 
whole  of  Mrs.  Lecount's  income  for  many  years.  In  his 
perplexity,  Mr.  Masters  would  have  liked  to  propose  a 
compromise  for  a  small  amount.  He  thought  it  great 
injustice  for  Mrs.  Lecount  to  be  obliged  to  pay  debts 
contracted  by  her  husband  on  the  race-course  and  in 
gambling-saloons,  inasmuch  as  they  could  not  be  col- 
lected legally.  Observing  the  trouble  that  was  weigh- 
ing on  his  mind,  she  guessed  the  cause  of  it,  and  insisted 
on  having  an  explanation  of  the  whole  affair. 

In  spite  of  her  weakness,  she  examined  every  claim, 
decided  the  question  for  herself,  and  announced  her  in- 
tention of  paying  them  all  in  full,  with  interest. 

"  But  it  will  take  years  to  do  it ! "  Mr.  Masters  said. 

"Very   well;  call  a  meeting  of  the  creditors,  tell 


ANOTHER   LINK,   AND   AN   OLD  FEIEND.  307 

thorn  my  resolution,  and  the  means  I  have  for  carrying 
it  out.  That  will  satisfy  them,  and  they  will  be  kind 
enough  to  wait  patiently  until  their  claims  can  be  set- 
tled," was  the  answer. 

"  You  will  have  to  economize  and  live  on  very  little," 
urged  Mr.  Masters. 

"  I  am  quite  willing  that  it  should  be  so ;  if  only 
you  will  pay  those  who  need  their  money,  at  once.  I 
cannot  endure  the  thought  of  any  one  suffering  on  my 
account,  and  I  am  certain  that  some  of  those  tradesmen 
are  really  poor." 

"  This  will  make  a  serious  difference  in  Arthur's  for- 
tune," went  on  Mr.  Masters,  "  and  as  it  is,  you  are  los- 
ing money  every  day.  Property  is  depreciating  in 
value,  and  your  rents  must  be  lowered,  if  we  expect  to 
keep  the  tenants  that  occupy  the  houses  at  present." 

"  I  should  prefer  seeing  Arthur  poor  to  letting  him 
hear  his  father's  name  coupled  with  dishonesty." 

"Then  it  shall  be  as  you  wish,"  Mr.  Masters  replied, 
as  he  gathered  the  bills  into  a  bundle  and  left  the  room. 
In  accordance  with  her  desire,  the  pretty  home  was  let, 
furnished,  and  Mrs.  Lecount  took  up  her  residence  per- 
manently in  her  guardian's  house.  Shortly  after  the 
unfortunate  battle  at  Manassas,  my  sister  wrote  that 
she  was  about  returning  home  to  attend  to  the  domestic 
affairs ;  but  that  mother  would  still  remain  with  "  poor 
Belle,"  who  did  not  recover  her  spirits,  and  was  "  still 
very  helpless  and  weak." 

During  the  inactivity  that  followed  the  fight  at  Ball's 


308  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

Bluff,  I  was  appointed  to  a  position  on  one  of  the  boards 
of  examination  then  being  instituted,  to  inquire  into  the 
qualifications  of  the  officers  forming  the  medical  corps 
of  the  army.  Thus  occupied,  I  remained  in  Washington 
the  greater  part  of  the  winter,  seeking  and  finding  a  for- 
getfulness  of  the  past,  in  the  performance  of  the  many 
duties  presented  to  me.  Just  before  starting  for  the  Pen- 
insula in  the  spring,  I  received  letters  from  home  of  quite 
a  pleasing  character.  Mr.  Masters  was  negotiating  for 
a  house  in  our  vicinity,  and  young  Mrs.  Lecount  was  so 
far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
hospital- work  going  on  in  New  York. 

"  You  will  be  surprised  to  hear,"  wrote  my  sister, 
"  that  she  has  mastered  the  art  of  turning  a  heel,  and  is 
knitting  socks  for  our  soldiers  constantly.  She  also  be- 
longs to  relief  societies,  cuts  out  work,  visits  the  sick 
and  wounded  in  the  hospital,  and  has  taken  a  helpless 
widow  and  her  family  of  little  children  under  her  own 
special  care.  Mr.  Masters  thinks  that  this  regular 
employment  for  head  and  hands  is  having  a  good  effect 
upon  her  health  and  spirits,  and  he  contributes  large 
sums  to  carry  out  her  benevolent  schemes.  I  am  look- 
ing forward  eagerly  for  their  arrival  here ;  her  example 
and  influence  will  do  wonders  for  our  village  '  aid 
society.'  Pauline  is  going  to  Washington,  to  join  the 
corps  of  nurses.  Her  people  were  very  much  opposed  to 
the  idea  at  first,  but  her  continued  lowness  of  spirits,  and 
desire  for  a  change  of  scene,  at  length  overcame  their 
dislike  to  her  design.  You  would  scarcely  recognize 


ANOTHER  LINK,   AND   AN  OLD   FRIEND.  309 

her,  and  I  really  believe  that  her  quiet  life  here  was 
killing  her.  None  of  them  have  been  the  same  since 
Claude's  death;  it  was  a  dreadful  shock  to  his  poor 
mother,  and  sitting  brooding  over  it  was  not  the  thing 
for  a  girl  of  Pauline's  active  mind  and  energetic  charac- 
ter. She  was  fast  growing  into  a  state  of  apathy  and 
indifference  to  all  around  her,  most  sad  to  witness.  I 
think  her  heart  was  bound  up  in  her  brother  Claude. 
Since  his  death,  the  great  intimacy  that  existed  between 
her  and  Belle  seems  to  have  ceased  ;  the  news  of  Mr. 
Masters'  intention  to  settle  here  among  us  had  no 
visible  effect  upon  her  for  good ;  it  rather  appeared  to 
increase  her  desire  for  going  away.  Of  course,  the 
sight  of  Belle  and  Arthur  would  keep  Claude's  terri- 
ble end  before  her  mind  perpetually,  and  she  real- 
ized its  horror  most  bitterly  and  to  the  fullest  extent. 
From  all  I  hear,  it  was  a  most  awful  affair.  Victor 
keeps  the  family  in  a  condition  of  alternate  delight  and 
despair — delight  for  his  bravery  and  rapid  promotion 
(he  is  now  a  major) — and  despair,  lest  he  too  should 
never  return.  To-day,  his  mother  wishes  that  he  was 
safe  beside  her,  pursuing  his  quiet  profession ;  and  to- 
morrow she  will  come  with  flushed  cheeks  and  bright 
eyes  to  tell  us  that  she  would  not  recall  him  for  the 
world.  All  our  absent  heroes  are  acquitting  themselves 
nobly,  and,  what  with  home  duties,  society  meetings, 
and  the  reading  of  army  letters,  we  are  in  a  state  of 
excitement  in  which  pleasure  and  pain  are  so  mingled, 
that  often  it  is  impossible  to  tell  which  feeling  is  upper- 


310  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

most.  I  wish  very  much  that  you  were  in  the  regiment 
with  Victor  and  our  other  boys,  but  that  is  too  much 
to  ask  for." 

Thus  wrote  my  sister ;  and  the  hopeful,  enthusiastic 
tone  of  all  her  letters  enabled  rue  to  set  out  with  a  light 
heart,  and  a  mind  free  from  all  cares  unconnected  with 
the  duties  of  my  office. 

The  events  that  followed  the  arrival  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  at  Fortress  Monroe  have  become  fit 
subjects  for  the  talents  of  the  ablest  historians  of  the 
day.  That  the  army  failed  in  achieving  the  object 
for  which  it  fought,  is  beyond  dispute.  Perhaps  the 
reasons  for  that  failure  will  never  be  agreed  upon  ; 
many  of  them  may  never  be  brought  to  light.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that,  in  the  time  to  come,  when  the  fog 
of  prejudice,  envy,  dislike,  and  political  partisanship, 
that  always  envelops  and  obscures  the  actions  of  the 
present,  shall  have  been  cleared  away,  due  justice 
will  be  done  to  the  talent  and  patriotism  of  the 
commanding  general,  and  to  the  unexcelled  bravery 
and  enthusiasm  of  the  men  that  fought  under  him. 
Let  Antietam  and  South  Mountain  testify  to  their 
unflinching  courage,  after  a  bitter  reverse,  and  their 
devotion  to  their  idolized  young  leader.  A  man 
must  deserve  great  respect,  and  be  capable  of  inspir- 
ing strange  confidence  in  the  soldiers'  hearts,  when 
he  can  take  the  shattered  regiments  of  a  broken  and 
dispirited  army,  and  with  them  defeat  the  same  en- 
emy reenforced  and  flushed  with  victory. 


ANOT1IEB  LINK,    AND   AN   OLD   FEIEND.  311 

During  General  Pope's  campaign  in  Virginia  I  had 
the  misfortune  to  be  taken  prisoner,  and  I  paid  a  com- 
pulsory visit  to  Richmond  in  consequence.  Our  flank 
had  been  turned,  and  our  men  were  in  full  retreat,  per- 
fectly careless  of  the  wounded  lying  on  the  field.  A 
small  barn,  that  we  had  taken  possession  of  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  unfortunate  eoldiers,  was  fired  upon 
in  spite  of  the  hospital  flag  exposed  to  view,  and  a  few 
minutes  after  a  party  of  the  enemy  entered,  and  called 
upon  us  to  surrender.  The  young  surgeon  who  was  as- 
sisting me  burst  into  a  loud  laugh  at  the  words.  For  a 
moment,  the  sound  of  his  mirth  grated  on  my  ears ;  but 
on  looking  about  me,  the  ludicrousness  of  the  demand 
was  apparent.  Stretched  upon  the  hay  and  straw, 
which  we  had  hastily  scattered  over  the  wood  flooring, 
were  a  dozen  or  more  of  our  poor  fellows,  in  postures  de- 
noting the  intensity  of  their  sufferings.  Helpless  and 
uncomplaining,  they  lay  patiently  awaiting  their  turn  to 
be  attended  to.  Hunger  and  fatigue,  consequent  upon 
their  forced  marches  and  desperate  fighting,  had  weak- 
ened their  constitutions,  and  when  to  this  condition 
were  added  the  effects  of  their  recent  wounds,  their  ap- 
pearance was  indeed  pitiable.  Not  knowing  what  mer- 
cy to  expect,  they  fixed  their  eyes  on  their  captors  with 
an  expression  in  which  curiosity  and  sadness  were 
strangely  mingled,  and  left  the  settlement  of  the  affair 
to  us. 

I  threw  a  hasty  glance  through  the  open  door  and 
windows,  but  no  means  of  help  were  visible.  Every  one 


312  DR.  WILMER'S  LOYE. 

capable  of  retreating  had  disappeared  in  the  wake  of  the 
defeated  army.  It  was  a  hot,  sultry  afternoon  in  the 
end  of  August.  The  trees  were  white  with  dust  and 
parched  for  want  of  rain.  On  one  side  lay  a  thick  AVOOC!, 
through  which  had  come  the  force  that  decided  the  for- 
tune of  the  day.  In  every  other  direction  were  stretched 
uncultivated  fields,  with  fences  broken  down,  the  ground 
torn  up  by  cannon-balls,  and  rendered  uneven  by  the 
deep  tracks  of  the  heavy  artillery-wagons.  Everywhere 
were  scattered  the  debris  of  battle,  and  over  all  was  shin- 
ing the  brilliant  sun,  rendering  still  more  intense  with 
its  burning  heat  the  sufferings  of  our  deserted  wounded, 
whose  forms  dotted  the  earth  on  all  sides. 

I  asked  in  vain  that  we  might  be  parolled,  and  left  to 
care  for  the  poor  fellows  around  us.  An  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  party  declared  his  intentions  of  taking  not 
only  us,  but  all  of  the  wounded  that  he  could  collect, 
along  with  him. 

"Here  is  one,  then,  that  I'm  thinking  you'll  never 
take,"  answered  a  soldier  who  was  lying  at  our  feet,  at 
the  same  time  raising  himself  on  his  elbow,  and  point- 
ing to  a  slight  form  almost  concealed  in  the  hay  near 
him. 

I  followed  the  movement  with  surprise,  not  having 
before  noticed  the  figure  he  meant. 

"  He  was  brought  in  here  quite  early  in  the  day,  while 
you  were  on  the  field,"  Doctor  Berry  said,  remarking  my 
astonishment.  "  He  was  past  hope  then,  and  I  thought 
it  better  to  attend  to  those  who  mi^ht  survive." 


ANOTHER   LINK,   AND   AN   OLD   FRIEND.  313 

I  pulled  the  straw  aside,  and  raised  the  dying  boy ; 
as  I  did  so,  the  light  shining  on  his  belt  showed  the  num- 
ber of  his  regiment  and  his  company.  For  a  moment  my 
heart  seemed  to  cease  beating;  then  I  brushed  aside 
the  heavy  hair  from  the  damp  forehead,  and  looked  at 
the  thin  features  over  which  the  gray  hue  of  death  was 
stealing.  "  Poor  Mrs.  Johnson ! "  I  muttered,  almost  in- 
audibly.  It  was  her  youngest  son  that  I  held  in  my 
arms. 

He  opened  his  eyes,  and  looked  in  my  face. 

"  Walter,  my  boy,  don't  you  know  me  ?  "  I  asked. 

He  smiled  faintly. 

"  If  I  could  only  see  mother  again ! "  he  gasped. 
They  were  his  last  words. 

"  If  you  would  like  it  done,  some  of  my  men  will  bury 
him,  and  you  can  put  a  mark  near  the  grave,  so  that  you 
can  find  it  again,"  said  the  Southern  officer,  touching  me 
on  the  shoulder. 

I  thanked  him  for  his  kindness,  and  accepted  the  offer. 
\Ve  collected  some  blankets  to  wrap  the  poor  boy  in,  and 
Doctor  Berry  cut  his  initials  in  a  piece  of  wood,  that 
served  for  a  head-stone  to  his  grave.  Some  few  little  ar- 
ticles that  were  in  his  pockets  I  carried  with  me  to  send 
to  his  mother.  That  sad  duty  performed,  we  prepared 
the  wounded  men  for  a  march  to  the  enemy's  camp,  as 
well  a*  it  was  possible  under  the  circumstances,  and 
started  for  our  destination  with  heavy  hearts.  The  pos- 
sibility of  the  situation  in  which  I  now  found  myself 
had  never  given  me  much  trouble.  I  had  been  so  fortu- 
14 


314  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

nate  hitherto  in  escaping  both  -wounds  and  capture,  that 
I  had  grown  quite  careless  about  the  danger  we  all  ran 
of  meeting  the  two  evils. 

Doctor  Berry  walked  beside  me,  assisting  a  lame  sol- 
dier on  his  way,  and  the  others  of  our  party  kept  as  near 
to  us  as  it  was  possible.  Our  captors  entertained  them- 
selves by  examining  various  little  trifles  picked  up  on 
the  field,  comparing  their  treasures,  and  singing  snatches 
of  songs,  breathing  fearful  vengeance  on  the  "  Northern 
foe." 

The  contemplation  of  the  miseries  of  a  prison-house, 
and  the  feelings  of  those  at  home  when  they  should  hear 
of  our  fate,  completely  put  all  ideas  of  singing  out  of 
our  minds,  however  patriotic  we  may  have  been  at 
heart.  The  knowledge  of  our  defeat  was  also  bitter  to 
us ;  if  we  had  met  with  this  disaster  during  the  prog- 
ress of  a  victory  for  our  side,  I  really  don't  think  that 
the  men  would  have  cared  about  it ;  as  it  was,  the  low 
curses,  that  I  am  sorry  to  say  fell  from  their  lips,  were 
all  directed  against  the  parties  who  in  their  opinion 
were  responsible  for  the  failure  of  the  day. 

The  officer  in  command  strode  on  ahead  of  us,  now 
and  then  turning  impatiently  with  an  order  to  hasten 
our  steps.  Once  he  joined  me,  and  excused  his  severity 
under  the  plea  of  having  to  carry  out  his  orders,  the 
principal  one  being,  to  bring  in  all  the  prisoners  he 
could  collect.  He  added  that,  personally,  he  had  no 
power  to  give  a  parole ;  but  that,  if  his  general  were  still 
in  camp,  he  would  procure  me  an  interview  with  him. 


AKOTHEE  LINK,  AND   AN   OLD   FEIEND.  315 

Unfortunately,  we  found  upon  our  arrival  there  that 
the  general  had  already  gone  forward  with  his  com- 
mand, and  had  left  strict  injunctions  to  "  send  all  pris- 
oners to  Richmond."  After  a  short  delay,  during 
which  those  of  the  wounded  who  were  unable  to  march 
were  placed  in  wagons,  we  set  out  on  our  weary  jour- 
ney, our  number  largely  increased  by  more  of  our  un- 
fortunate comrades.  The  utter  dreariness  and  the  suf- 
ferings connected  with  that  march,  and  the  imprison- 
ment that  followed  it,  will  never  be  effaced  from  my 
memory.  The  impressions  left  on  my  mind  by  the  dif- 
ferent scenes  we  witnessed  will  always  remain  with  me. 
I  can  recall  with  painful  minuteness  the  aspect  of  the 
desolated  country,  and  the  deserted,  ruined  homesteads ; 
the  appearance  of  our  rough  guards,  with  their  worn 
uniforms  and  fine  horses;  and  the  confused  crowd  of 
which  I  formed  a  member.  We  were  kept  as  close 
together  as  it  was  possible,  and  a  strange  sight  we  pre- 
sented. Men  from  various  regiments,  and  in  tattered 
garments  of  all  hues,  were  there,  most  of  them  suffering 
from  slight  wounds,  and  all  haggard,  sleepy,  and  hun- 
gry. Marching  along  thus,  with  gloomy,  emaciated 
countenances  and  bent  forms,  their  complete  lack  of 
energy  and  utter  dejection  struck  me  forcibly.  We 
outnumbered  our  captors  ten  to  one ;  and  often  before, 
when  reading  of  like  circumstances,  I  had  wondered 
why  the  prisoners  did  not  overpower  their  guards,  and 
attempt  to  escape ;  it  seemed  to  be  an  easy  matter  in 
such  a  wide  extent  of  country.  The  question  no  longer 


316  DE.  WTUIER'S  LOVE. 

troubled  me ;  I  realized  the  bitter  effect  of  defeat  on 
soldiers  usually  brave  and  self-possessed.  I  understood 
bow  quickly  an  army  may  become  demoralized  and  un- 
controllable. Deprived  of  their  officers  and  their  weap- 
ons, all  other  means  of  self-defence  were  forgotten; 
they  lost  all  the  ardor  and  impetuosity  of  a  soldier ; 
their  hands  hung  helpless  by  their  sides,  and  complete 
despair  took  possession  of  them. 

On  reaching  Richmond,  Doctor  Berry  and  I,  with  the 
other  officers  captured,  were  separated  from  the  privates 
and  conducted  to  the  quarters  assigned  us,  a  large  room 
in  the  Libby  prison,  filled  with  our  unhappy  comrades. 
Our  arrival  served  to  break  the  weary  monotony  of  the 
day,  and  they  listened  eagerly  to  all  the  news  we  had 
to  tell.  Sad  tidings  indeed,  but  still  it  supplied  a  sub- 
ject for  thought  and  discussion  to  the  men,  so  tired  of 
contemplating  their  own  wretched  condition.  In  at- 
tending to  the  descriptions  of  the  movements  of  the 
past  few  weeks,  given  by  the  officers  who  had  partici- 
pated in  them,  their  eyes  brightened,  their  cheeks 
flushed  and  paled  with  alternate  enthusiasm  and  sor- 
row, and  their  voices  regained  some  of  the  old  ring  and 
depth  of  tone. 

In  the  days  that  followed,  I  watched  with  surprise 
the  amusements  that  occupied  the  long,  weary  hours  of 
these  full-grown  men,  and  realized  what  they  must 
have  endured  before  resorting  in  desperation  to  these 
childish  pursuits.  Some  played  cards  with  an  energy 
and  interest  almost  ludicrous  under  the  circumstances, 


ANOTHER   LINK,   AND   AN   OLD   FEIEND.  317 

and  the  little  pieces  of  pasteboard  were  subjects  for  a 
collector  of  curiosities.  Owing  to  the  amount  of  ser- 
vice they  had  seen,  they  "were  about  as  easy  to  be  de- 
ciphered as  Egyptian  hieroglyphics.  Notwithstanding 
their  disagreeable  appearance,  I  found  myself,  after  a 
few  days,  making  a  fourth  in  a  game  of  "  old  sledge," 
with  great  pleasure,.  Several  of  my  comrades  enter- 
tained themselves  by  cutting  rings  and  other  little  orna- 
ments out  of  pieces  of  bone  and  wood  -begged  from 
the  jailer.  The  pains  they  toot,  and  the  patience  they 
exhibited,  in  carving  and  polishing  the  objects  of  so 
much  industry,  were  almost  incredible.  I  know  many 
a  mother  -who  wears  with  pride  "  the  ring  my  son 
made  during  his  imprisonment  in  the  Libby."  Among 
us  were  a  few  young  fellows  gifted  with  a  talent  for 
sketching,  and  a  spirit  for  fun  not  to  be  destroyed 
under  adversity.  The  caricatures  with  which  they 
filled  every  scrap  of  paper  within  their  reach  were  al- 
ways productive  of  merriment,  and  served  to  dispel 
many  a  fit  of  dejection.  Others  kept  diaries  until  their 
materials  were  exhausted.  Our  condition,  so  intolera- 
ble on  the  whole,  taught  us  many  good  lessons.  It 
showed  us  human  nature  as  it  is ;  drawing  out  capabili- 
ties for  action,  and  expressions  of  deep  feeling,  which, 
under  happier  circumstances,  would  have  remained  un- 
suspected and  dormant  till  the  end  of  time.  Very  few 
could  have  left  that  prison-house  without  carrying 
away  with  them  kindlier  feelings  toward  their  fellow- 
men  than  they  had  ever  possessed  before. 


318  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

I  was  standing  one  morning  near  a  window,  watch- 
ing Doctor  Berry  in  his  efforts  to  fashion  a  little  cross 
from  a  piece  of  bone,  when  some  one  passing  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  street  attracted  my  attention  by  the 
steady  glance  he  fixed  upon  us.  As  I  looked  down  at 
him,  he  pulled  his  cap  hastily  over  his  eyes,  and  all  I 
distinguished  was  a  man  in  the  well-known  gray,  with 
an  immense  beard,  a  thin  figure,  and  a  pair  of  very 
brown  hands.  Half  an  hour  passed.  I  was  sitting  with 
my  head  bent  on  my  arms,  thinking  of  home  with  a 
longing  to  hear  from  it,  that  seemed  to  be  eating  into 
my  heart ;  and  the  opening  of  the  door,  which  usually 
caused  more  or  less  excitement,  did  not  attract  my  at- 
tention. A  moment  afterward  a  hand  was  laid  on  my 
shoulder,  and  a  well-known  voice  exclaimed : 

"  Jack,  my  dear  boy,  is  this  possible  ?  " 

I  looked  up  and  met  Harry  Weston's  eyes,  dimmed 
with  tears,  fixed  on  my  face. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  this  cursed  place  ?  "  he 
exclaimed,  before  I  had  time  to  answer  him,  for  he  had 
given  me  an  embrace  that  nearly  took  my  breath  away. 

"  Since  August !  " 

"  What !  three  months,  and  you  never  sent  for  me  ? 
Jack,  I'm  ashamed  of  you." 

"  I  never  'supposed  for  one  moment  that  you  were 
here,"  I  answered. 

He  understood  me ;  for  a  second  his  eyes  fell,  then 
he  looked  me  straight  in  the  face. 

"  Wilmer,  you  shall  not  break  our  friendship  without 


ANOTHER   LINK,   AND   AN   OLD   FRIEND.  319 

hearing  me.  I  regret  from  my  heart  the  whole  affair, 
and  in  my  capacity  as  a  surgeon  I  have  rendered  assist- 
ance to  friend  and  foe  alike.  But  I  am  a  Virginian,  a 
Southerner  born  and  bred,  with  all  the  principles  and 
prejudices  that  belong  to  us  as  a  class.  Whatever  the 
result  may  be,  I  shall  stand  by  my  own  State  and  peo- 
ple. I  know  all  your  arguments,  but  we  have  many 
good  ones  on  our  side.  The  questions  we  are  defending 
have  never  been  settled,  and  we  have  staked  every  thing 
we  own  that  they  may  be. decided  now.  Perhaps  I  am 
wrong ;  I  am  at  least  sincere.  I  can  assure  you  that  this 
struggle  has  ruined  all  my  prospects,  and  nearly  beg- 
gared me.  May  we  not  respect  each  other's  views,  and 
be  friends  ?  " 

He  held  out  his  hand,  and  I  took  it  in  the  spirit  in 
which  it  was  offered. 

"  Half  an  hour  ago,"  he  went  on,  "  when  I  saw 
you  at  that  window,  I  could  hardly  believe  my  senses. 
As  soon  as  I  had  performed  my  errand,  I  returned,  to 
satisfy  myself  of  the  truth  of  my  eyesight.  I  am  going 
now  to  try  and  get  you  out  on  parole  ;  then  we  will  go 
home  and  see  Edith,  my  wife.  I  have  kept  her  here 
with  me  all  through — in  fact,  it  is  a  necessity ;  my 
mother  has  not  left  her  room  for  three  years,  and  to 
remove  her  would  be  certain  death.  Perhaps,  when 
you  see  all,  and  realize  my  position  better,  you  will  not 
think  so  badly  of  me." 

He  pressed  my  hand  as  he  uttered  the  last  words, 
with  a  choking  gasp,  and  went  away  hastily. 


320  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

"  Go  home  ! "  How  strangely  the  words  sounded  ! 
How  fully  I  realized  their  fond  meaning  now,  their  true 
significance !  His  very  voice  had  softened  in  its  tone  as 
he  said  them.  Who  could  calculate  the  happiness  that 
this  home  had  afforded  him,  or  realize  the  blessing  it 
had  been  to  him  ?  Only  those  who  were  equally  fortunate 
in  possessing  one.  I  brushed  off  the  tears  that  the 
thought  "  When  shall  I  go  home  ?  "  occasioned,  and, 
pacing  up  and  down  the  room,  awaited  his  return. 

He  came  back  after  some  hours,  looking  flushed  .and 
tired,  but  happy  at  the  success  of  his  application.  I 
was  a  prisoner  on  parole,  with  liberty  to  go  where  I 
pleased  during  the  day,  so  long  as  I  reported  myself 
faithfully  at  night,  and  made  no  notes  of  what  was 
passing  in  the  city. 

"  That  was  all  I  could  do  for  you,  Jack,  my  boy ; 
but  cheer  up — they  are  arranging  for  an  exchange  now, 
and  you  shall  be  included  in  the  first  detachment  sent 
away."  This  he  said  as  we  left  the  "  Libby  "  together, 
and  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  his  house. 

As  we  walked  along,  arm-in-arm,  he  entered  into  a 
description  of  what  his  life  had  been  since  I  had  parted 
from  him  shortly  after  his  marriage.  His  voice,  when 
he  mentioned  his  wife,  and  the  tender,  joyous  expres- 
sion that  lit  up  his  face,  proved  that  his  domestic 
happiness  was  perfect,  whatever  troubles  might  have 
checked  his  professional  career.  He  spoke  with  pride 
of  his  three  little  ones,  and  promised  me  a  noisy  wel- 
come from  them.  The  oldest  child,  a  boy  of  four  years, 


ANOTHEB   LUTE,  AND   AN   OLD   FRIEND.  321 

was  at  the  gate  waiting  for  him.  He  bounded  into  his 
father's  arms  with  an  exclamation  of  delight,  and,  rest- 
ing his  curly  little  head  on  Harry's  cheek,  surveyed  me 
with  a  puzzled  expression,  half  wonder,  half  fear. 

"Come,  Harry,  shake  hands  with  Doctor  Wilmer; 
he  is  one  of  papa's  friends." 

Master  Harry  looked  rather  dubious,  as  if  he  doubted 
the  possibility  of  the  thing. 

"  Him  has  a  blue  coat  on,"  he  answered,  with  a  look 
of  contempt  on  his  childish  face  that  was  most  amusing. 

We  both  laughed  heartily. 

"  Harry,"  I  said,  "  you  are  educating  him  in  your 

own  principles." 

^ 
"  Indeed,  Jack,  I  have  never  tried  to  impress  such 

ideas  on  his  mind,  he  is  too  young ;  but,  unfortunately, 
the  people  who  visit  at  my  house  are  not  so  careful  in 
their  remarks.  He  has  picked  up  his  notions  from  them, 
not  from  his  mother  nor  me." 

"  Harry  and  I  will  be  good  friends  yet,"  I  'said. 
"  He  will  soon  forget  his  dislike  of  a  blue  coat." 

The  homelike  aspect  of  the  place  was  quite  refresh- 
ing after  three  months  of  prison-life.  The  house  was 
low  and  wide,  with  a  pretty  veranda  around  it,  still 
covered  with  the  bright  foliage  and  flowers  of  the 
Southern  vines.  There  was  an  air  of  life  and  activity 
about  every  thing  that  exerted  a  strange,  pleasant  in- 
fluence over  me,  and  from  the  open  windows  came  the 
sweet  sound  of  a  woman's  soft  voice,  and  light  laughter. 

Harry  Weston  ran  up  the  steps,  his  child  still  on 
14* 


322  DB.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

his  shoulder,  and  threw  open  the  door  of  the  sitting- 
room. 

"  Edith,  here  is  Doctor  Wilmer ;  I  found  him  to-day 
in  the  Libby." 

I  looked  into  the  room.  Mrs.  Weston  was  seated  in 
a  low  chair,  sewing  a  little  dress,  and  rocking  with  her 
foot  a  cradle  containing  a  beautiful  baby  of  about  two 
months.  On  the  sofa,  almost  covered  with  shawls,  was 
lying  a  delicate-looking  old  lady,  with  pretty  features, 
and  a  sweet  expression  of  face.  As  her  son  spoke,  she 
dropped  a  coarse  woollen  stocking  that  she  was  knitting, 
and  looked  toward  us  with  unaffected  surprise.  Mrs. 
Weston  rose  instantly  from  her  seat,  and  the  next  mo- 
ment was  holding  my  hands  in  hers,  and  gazing  into  my 
face  with  tears  of  compassion  in  her  eyes.  When  she 
spoke,  it  was  in  a  voice  of  welcome  and  kindness  that 
went  to  my  heart.  The  old  lady,  on  comprehending 
who  I  was,  was  quite  pleased  to  see  me,  and  a  little 
girl  of  three  summers  peeped  from  behind  her  grand- 
mother's sofa,  and  greeted  me  with  a  bright  smile. 

"  That  is  my  little  Edith,  Jack,"  Harry  said,  "  and 
the  young  gentleman  in  the  cradle  is  John  Wilmer 
Weston,  at  your  service.  You  see  we  have  not  forgot- 
ten you." 

I  bent  over  my  little  namesake  with  a  feeling  of 
gratified  pride. 

"  Come  in  here,  Jack ! "  Harry  called  out,  opening 
the  door  of  an  adjoining  room. 

"  Here  is  my  wardrobe ;  suit  yourself.    I  know  I  need 


ANOTHER   LINK,  AND   AN   OLD   FBIEND.  323 

not  tell  you  not  to  touch  my  best  uniform ;  but  you  will 
find  plenty  of  civilians'  clothes  there,  and,  if  I  don't  make 
a  mistake,  some  of  them  are  blue;  I  bought  them  just 
before  this  trouble  commenced." 

"  They  are  in  the  trunk,  Harry,"  Mrs.  Weston  said, 
coming  into  the  room.  "  If  you  like,  I  can  fasten 
Doctor  Wilmer's  straps  on  the  coat  while  he  is  dress- 
ing." 

"  I  believe  Edith  has  a  fancy,  felt,  but  unexpressed, 
for  the  blue  uniform,"  Harry  Westou  said,  throwing  his 
arm  around  his  wife,  and  looking  in  her  face. 

"  Since  you  are  both  sincere,  may  I  not  respect  the 
principles  of  each?"  she  answered,  with  flushed  cheeks 
and  glistening  eyes. 

"  Between  us,  "VVilmer,"  Harry  went  on,  "  there  is 
very  little  of  the  rebel  in  my  wife.  She  has  her  own 
opinions  as  well  as  .the  rest  of  us.  Happily  for  me,  the 
marriage  service  rises  superior  to  political  distinctions, 
and  so  my  wife  remains  with  me  in  spite  of  my  gray 
uniform.  Her  two  brothers  are  on  your  side  in  the 
contest,  and  for  that  reason  party  questions  are  never 
discussed  in  my  house  with  my  will.  Mother  is  a  hot 
little  rebel,  and  spends  her  time,  as  you  see  her  now, 
making  up  small  comforts  for  our  men.  She  never 
leaves  her  sofa  without  assistance,  and  she  suffers  terri- 
bly at  times.  This  is  one  of  her  easy  days." 

"  Is  there  no  help  for  her  ?  "  I  asked,  looking  at  the 
quiet  figure  on  the  sofa  in  the  next  room. 

"  None  whatever.    Her  health  will  never  be  restored, 


324  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

but  she  is  happy  and  cheerful  in  the  midst  of  all  our 
troubles.  The  children  are  every  thing  to  her  in  the 
way  of  amusement,  and  for  society  and  attention  she 
depends  almost  entirely  on  my  wife.  In  fact,  but  for 
this  little  Northerner,  I  do  not  know  what  would  be- 
come of  us." 

"  At  this  moment  I  wonder  what  will  become  of  the 
dinner,"  Mrs.  Weston  said,  in  a  laughing  tone,  as  she 
left  the  room. 

"  Our  best  servants  have  run  away  from  us,  and 
Mrs.  Weston  has  to  attend  to  nearly  all  the  domestic 
affairs  herself.  The  few  that  remain  here  are  working 
under  protest,  just  watching' for  a  good  opportunity  to 
steal  off.  Our  old  nurse  is  the  only  one  that  we  can 
place  the  least  dependence  on.  She  is  invaluable  with 
the  children,  and  she  has  taken  a  curious  fancy  to  my 
wife,  and  tries  to  relieve  her  as  much  as  possible  from 
her  household  cares ;  still,  they  are  too  great  a  tax  on 
her  strength." 

Harry  "Weston  was  opening  a  trunk  as  he  talked, 
from  which  he  took  a  new  suit  of  blue-flannel  clothes  ; 
and  having  collected  all  the  things  necessary  for  my 
toilet,  he  amused  himself  taking  the  straps  off  my  old 
coat,  from  which  all  brightness  had  long  departed,  and 
conversing  over  the  events  of  the  day  in  his  own  earnest 
manner.  He  had  seated  himself  on  a  chair  near  the 
window,  and  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  as  they  darted 
into  the  room,  shone  full  upon  his  blue  eyes  and  fair 
hair,  and  played  over  the  bronzed  cheeks  and  hands 


ANOTHER  LINK,  AND   AN   OLD   FKIEND.  325 

that  I  remembered  as  white  and  delicate  as  those  of  a 
woman.  Whenever  I  think  of  him,  I  see  him  as  he 
looked  that  day,  and  bring  to  mind  all  his  good-natured 
actions.  I  recall  him  bending  over  his  mother,  and 
easing  her  pain  by  his  tender  care  and  little  attentions, 
or  with  loving  thoughtfulness  assisting  his  wife  in  a 
thousand  little  ways,  too  trifling,  perhaps,  to  mention, 
but  they  gave  evidence  of  an  affection  which  would 
repay  her  for  any  and  every  hardship  that  she  might  be 
called  upon  to  suffer  for  his  sake. 

While  I  was  dressing,  he  observed  me  glancing  with 
some  curiosity  from  the  floor  to  the  costly  mirror  before 
which  I  stood,  and  guessing  my  thoughts  he  commenced 
laughing. 

"  The  fact  is,  Jack,  our  carpets  are  gone  to  make 
blankets  for  our  soldiers.  We  have  only  those  in  the 
parlor  and  sitting-room  left.  No  doubt  they  will  soon  fol- 
low the  others,  and  they  could  not  go  in  a  better  cause." 

"  You  fight  under  difficulties,"  I  said. 

"  Yes,  we  are  called  upon  to  make  a  great  many 
sacrifices  ;  loss  of  carpets  is  one  of  the  least.  I  will  tell 
you  what  touches  us  the  most ;  it  is  the  lack  of  all  the 
nourishing  articles  of  food  that  we  used  to  have  from 
the  North.  We  don't  care  for  ourselves,  but  it  is  hard 
to  see  our  wives  and  children  pining  for  want  of  them. 
I  know  that  my  wife  does  not  regain  her  strength  as 
usual,  and  I  feel  the  fact  keenly.  She  will  not  allow  it ; 
but  it  is  because  she  will  not  give  me  pain  by  confessing 
it.  Harry  misses  his  fresh  meat  too.  This  continually 


326  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

eating  bacon  is  very  unhealthy.  We  have  fresh  vege- 
tables, of  course,  but  they  don't  fill  the  place  of  beef 
and  mutton.  I  should  take  them  all  to  Georgia  if  I 
could  remove  my  mother  with  safety,  but  that  is  im- 
possible, and  my  wife  will  not  hear  of  sending  the  two 
older  children  away  from  her ;  she  will  not  trust  them 
to  distant  relatives." 

"  And  I  cannot  blame,  her ;  besides,  if  our  plans  are 
carried  out,  Georgia  will  soon  be  as  unsafe  as  Virginia." 

"  Say  what  you  please  here,  Jack,  but  don't  express 
your  opinions  quite  so  openly  in  any  other  place  this 
side  of  the  line.  To  tell  the  truth,  if  we  don't  gain  some 
more  decided  successes  soon,  this  place  will  be  unbearable 
between  high  prices  and  lack  of  necessaries.  If  my  wife 
were  only  safe  out  of  all  this  misery — but  she  declares 
that  she  will  never  leave  Richmond  while  I  am  in  or 
near  it,  and  she  means  what  she  says." 

"  I  wish,"  I  said,  looking  into  his  face,  which  had 
grown  careworn  and  sad,  "'that  you  could  send  your 
little  ones  to  us.  My  sister  would  be  delighted  to  have 
the  charge  of  them,  and  Mrs.  Lecount  would  welcome 
them  heartily.  She  has  never  forgotten  the  debt  of 
gratitude  she  owes  your  wife.  Besides,  she  has  but  the 
one  child,  and  since  her  husband's  death  her  life  has 
been  very  quiet  and  lonely.  Your  Harry  would  be  a 
nice  playmate  for  her  Arthur;  they  are  about  the 
same  age." 

"  Yes,  there  are  not  more  than  eight  months  between 
them,  I  believe,"  Harry  said,  musingly. 


ANOTHER   LINK,   AND   AN   OLD   FRIEND.  327 

Then  his  eyes  brightened,  and  he  took  my  hand  and 
pressed  it  warmly. 

"  Some  day,  Jack,  I  may  remind  you  of  this  offer." 

"  You  cannot  do  it  too  soon,"  I  answered.  "  There 
is  a  large  house,  with  only  two  women  in  it,  and  plenty 
of  means.  My  mother  would  grow  young  again  if  she 
could  hear  children's  voices  about  her." 

"  I  shall  speak  to  Edith,"  Harry  said,  in  a  voice 
hoarse  with  emotion.  Then,  with  an  effort  that  cost 
him  much,  he  whispered — 

"  Jack,  if  we  fail,  I  am  a  ruined  man  ;  and  if  I  die, 
my  wife  and  children  will  be  entirely  dependent  on  her 
father ;  and  this  war,  for  all  I  can  tell,  may  have  beg- 
gared him.  She  has  no  one  here  to  look  to  for  help  ; 
my  relatives  have  all  staked  their  fortunes  on  the  result 
of  the  fight,  and  it  will  end  for  them  the  same  as  it  will 
for  me." 

I  took  his  hand,  and  put  mine  on  his  shoulder. 
Standing  thus,  we  two  men  gazed  for  a  moment  each 
into  the  other's  face,  and  understood  each  the  other's 
heart.  A  knock  at  the  door,  and  Mrs.  Weston's  sweet 
voice,  announcing  dinner,  startled  us.  Harry  recovered 
himself  instantly,  assumed  his  natural  gayety,  and  as 
we  left  the  room  complimented  me  on  the  alteration  in 
my  appearance.  During  the  meal,  however,  I  felt  con- 
vinced that  the  traces  of  his  emotion  were  only  too 
visible  to  his  wife ;  her  voice  became  even  softer  when 
addressing  him,  and  her  face  borrowed  some  of  the  sad 
expression  that  remained  in  his.  I  watched  her  per- 


328  DR.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

forming  her  duties  of  wife,  mother,  and  housekeeper, 
with  a  feeling  of  respect  that  bordered  on  adoration. 
The  war  had  almost  impoverished  her  husband ;  his 
practice  was  swept  away,  his  savings  were  invested  in 
bonds,  and  they  were  living  on  the  slender  pay  he  re- 
ceived from  the  government.  Owing  to  the  high  prices, 
and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  them,  luxuries  of  all 
kinds  were  beyond  their  means.  Their  food  was  of  the 
plainest  quality,  and  not  always  sufficient  in  quantity. 
In  spite  of  this  and  many  other  discomforts,  Mrs.  Wes- 
ton  was,  in  my  opinion,  far  more  beautiful  than  she  had 
been  as  Miss  Edith  Fullerton.  I  remembered  her  in  her 
bridal  dress,  glowing  with  youth,  and  radiant  in  the 
fresh  loveliness  of  girlhood.  I  saw  her  now,  a  wife  and 
mother,  still  young  and  handsome,  but  possessing  the 
greater  beauty  of  expression  which  the  cares  and  joys 
of  her  married  life  had  imparted  to  her  face.  I  felt  that 
the  trials  of  her  position  had  increased  her  fine  qualities 
of  head  and  heart,  and  strengthened  her  affections  and 
powers  of  endurance.  She  was  graceful,  even  elegant, 
in  her  dark  cotton  dress  and  linen  collar,  and  the  ab- 
sence of  all  ornament  seemed  to  bring  into  greater 
prominence  the  Grecian  outlines  of  her  head,  with  its 
coils  of  dark  hair.  Still,  her  beauty  was  her  least  charm. 
There  was  a  naturalness  and  a  lack  of  all  affectation  in 
her  speech  and  manner  that  made  her  perfectly  fasci- 
nating. 

During  the  few  weeks  that  I  remained  in  Richmond 
after  the  day  that  Harry  "Weston  found  me,  I  spent 


ANOTHER   LINK,  AND   AN   OLD   FRIEND.  329 

most  of  the  hours  of  freedom  allowed  me  in  his  sitting- 
room.  The  children  became  fond  of  me,  and  even  old 
Mrs.  "West on  would  grow  brighter  on  seeing  m^  in  an- 
ticipation of  an  argument  on  the  respective  merits  of  the 
two  armies.  She  was  failing  fast,  a  fact  plainly  visible 
to  her  son  and  daughter-in-law,  who,  under  the  circum- 
stances, felt  keenly  their  reduced  means  of  living,  and 
the  impossibility  of  obtaining  for  the  invalid  many  little 
luxuries  that  she  fancied  and  wished  for.  Another 
anxiety  was  also  weighing  on  young  Mrs.  Weston. 
There  were  rumors  of  an  approaching  battle ;  and  the 
departure  of  some  of  the  troops  stationed  in  Richmond 
for  the  front  was  daily  expected. 

One  morning,  on  going  into  the  house,  I  found  Mrs. 
Weston  sitting  crying  on  a  low  chair  by  the  window. 
Her  baby  was  on  her  knees,  and  the  two  older  children, 
attracted  by  the  sight  of  their  mother's  tears,  were  lean- 
ing against  her,  with  their  arms  around  her  neck,  trying 
in  vain  to  kiss  them  away.  She  looked  up  with  a  faint 
smile  on  seeing  me,  and  motioned  to  me  to  speak  softly, 
so  as  not  to  disturb  the  old  lady,  who  was  asleep  on  her 
sofa. 

"  I  have  been  trying  to  make  up  my  mind  to  accept 
your  kind  offer,  Doctor  Wilmer,"  she  said,  taking  my 
hand,  "  but  it  comes  very  hard  on  me.  Separating  from 
my  children  Avill  be  a  bitter  trial ;  one  I  never  antici- 
pated, although  I  thought  that  I  had  considered  the  very 
worst  results  that  could  arise  from  this  unhappy  war. 
Harry  has  been  talking  about  it  ever  since  you  mentioned 


330  DB.  WILMEK'S  LOYE. 

it  to  him.  He  has  tried  to  make  me  understand  its  ad- 
vantages, and  of  course  I  realize  them  ;•  still  I  cannot  part 
with  them,  they  are  such  a  comfort  to  us  all  here.  If 
Harry  goes  away  again,  I  do  not  know  what  I  shall  do. 
I  have  lost  courage  fearfully  since  baby  came.  Harry 
attributes  it  to  my  want  of  strength.  He  says  I  look 
too  much  on  the  dark  side.  Perhaps  I  do.  Certainly 
the  difficulties  of  our  position  seem  to  increase,  and 
there  is  no  sign  of  the  war  coming  to  an  end.  Perhaps 
some  day  I  may  be  only  too  glad  to  ask  you  for  advice 
and  assistance." 

I  had  never  before  seen  Mrs.  Weston  give  way  to  such 
gloomy  thoughts  ;  on  the  contrary,  her  cheerfulness  and 
hopefulness  had  often  surprised  me.  Drawing  little 
Harry  on  my  knee,  I  endeavored  to  lead  her  mind  to 
other  subjects.  I  spoke  of  my  home,  and  our  friends 
there,  and,  without  intending  it,  I  disclosed  my  own 
anxiety  of  mind,  for,  although  I  had  written  several 
times  to  my  mother,  no  answer  had  ever  reached  me 
from  her. 

"  Harry  felt  quite  delighted  last  night,"  Mrs.  TVes- 
ton  replied.  "  He  thinks  the  exchange  will  go  on  at 
once,  without  further  interruption.  You  must  promise 
to  write  often  after  you  leave  here,  and,  if  possible,  I 
shall  answer  you." 

The  opening  of  the  gate  drew  our  attention,  and, 
looking  through  the  window,  we  saw  Harry  Weston 
coming  hurriedly  up  the  walk.  He  was  equipped  for  a 
march,  and  his  wife  knew  instinctively  the  meaning  of 


ANOTHEB  LINK:,  AND  AN  OLD  FEIEND.  331 

his  sudden  appearance.  She  became  deathly  pale,  and, 
laying  the  baby  in  the  cradle,  as  if  unable  to  hold  it,  she 
went  softly  out  of  the  room,  and  met  him  at  the  door. 

I  saw  her  husband's  face  brighten  when  he  caught 
sicrht  of  her,  waiting  on  the  veranda  to  welcome  him. 

O  *  O 

A  moment  after,  when  they  came  together  into  the 
room,  she  was  begging  him  to  lay  aside  his  heavy  knap- 
sack, and  smoothing  the  bright  hair  from  his  heated 
face  with  trembling  hands. 

"  He  is  going  away,"  was  all  she  could  say  to  me,  in 
a  choking  voice,  as  she  motioned  Harry  to  his  usual 
arm-chair  near  his  mother's  sofa. 

"I  can't  sit  down,  Edith,  love  ;  I  have  only  time  to 
kiss  the  little  ones,  mother,  and  you.  The  regiment  has 
started. — "VViliner,"  he  went  on,  turning  to  me,  "  you 
will  probably  leave  for  Fortress  Monroe  to-morrow. 
I  just  sa^w  the  list,  and  your  name  is  on  it,  old  fellow 
— all  right.  Don't  forget  us  here  in  Dixie,  when  you 
are  safe  again  in  Washington,"  he  added,  gayly,  with 
an  effort  to  recover  his  old  light  manner.  "We  are 
off  to  the  front.  This  is  worse  than  fighting,"  he 
said,  a  moment  after,  looking  at  his  wife's  face  bent 
on  his  shoulder. 

"  Just  an  instant,  darling,"  he  whispered,  releasing 
her  hands  from  their  clasp  around  his  neck.  He 
leaned  over  his  mother,  then,  while  she  blessed  him  and 
wished  him  success  in  a  feeble  voice  that  shook  with 
emotion  in  spite  of  her  attempted  self-control.  My 
poor  friend,  I  can  see  him  now,  bending  over  the  baby- 


332  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

face  in  the  cradle,  and  leaving  passionate  kisses  mingled 
with  bitter  tears  on  the  childish  lips  that  he  might 
never  touch  again.  The  remembrance  of  his  wife's  face, 
when  he  turned  to  her  to  kiss  her  for  the  last  time,  will 
remain  with  me  as  long  as  I  live.  She  watched  him 
until  his  form  could  no  longer  be  distinguished  in  the 
busy  street,  and  then,  sinking  on  her  knees  beside  the 
cradle,  she  laid  her  head  on  the  pillow  near  the  uncon- 
scious little  baby-face,  and  sobbed  convulsively. 

"  Edith,  daughter !  "  the  old  lady  called  from  her 
sofa,  "  do  not  fret  like  that.  You  never  before  gave 
way  so  much.  Harry  will  return  safe  to  you  and  his 
children.  Come  to  me,  your  poor  old  mother,  that  may 
never  see  her  son  again." 

"  Poor  mother  !  "  Mrs.  Weston  said,  rising  hastily  ; 
then  taking  the  quiet  little  figure  in  her  arms,  she 
soothed  and  caressed  it,  and  tried,  by  comforting  the 
helpless  mother,  to  gain  some  hope  for  her  own  heavy 
heart. 

"I  never  before  felt  so  desolate  and  despondent, 
although  Harry  has  often  left  us  just  as  unexpectedly," 
she  said,  turning  to  me.  "Do  you  think  it  foretells 
misfortune  ?  " 

"I  think  that  you  are  not  strong,  and  therefore  dis- 
posed to  imagine  all  kinds  of  horrors  coming  upon  you. 

• 
Your  nerves  are  in  a  weakened  condition,  and  you  see 

only  the  troubles  that  may  arise,  not  the  blessings. 
Try  and  grow  stronger  for  Harry's  sake.  If  he  has  the 
misfortune  to  fall  into  our  hands,  I  shall  take  care  of 


ANOTHEB  LINK,   AND   AN   OLD   FJJIEND.  333 

him.    We  surgeons,  as  a  general  thing,  run  but  little 
danger  of  wounds." 

"  Yes,  but  Harry  has,  more  than  once,  led  a  com- 
pany when  its  officers  have  all  fallen,  and  I  really  believe 
that  he  enjoyed  the  danger  it  placed  him  in." 

"  Harry  never  knew  what  fear  was,"  said  old  Mrs. 
Weston,  energetically. 

Her  daughter  sighed  wearily,  as  if  not  so  much  im- 
pressed by  the  beauties  of  Harry's  courage. 

"There  is  hardly  a  house  in  our  country  where  the 
women  are  not  suffering  as  we  are  to-night.  I  only 
hope  that  we  may  have  more  victories.  It  inspires  our 
men  with  so  much  enthusiasm ! "  the  old  lady  exclaimed, 
warming  with  the  subject. 

Her  daughter  sighed  again,  and  busied  herself  with 
the  children,  instead  of  answering. 

Afterward,  in  view  of  my  probable  departure  on 
the  next  day,  Mrs.  "Weston  wrote  letters  to  her  father 
and  brothers,  which  I  undertook  to  forward  to  them  on 
my  return  t»  Washington.  I  bade  the  family  good-by 
that  afternoon  with  a  heavy  heart.  In  spite  of  the 
home-like  surroundings,  there  was  an  air  of  desolation 
over  every  thing,  and  it  seemed  impossible  to  shake  off 
the  gloomy  impressions  that  Harry's  absence  had  occa- 
sioned. Mrs.  Weston,  with  all  her  efforts  to  regain  her 
usual  cheerfulness,  looked  pale  and  crashed,  and  quite 
unable  to  sustain  the  cares  of  her  position.  Even  the 
old  lady's  spirit  had  died  away ;  and  the  children,  awed 
by  the  sorrowful  faces  around  them,  had  crept  silently 


334  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

out  of  the  room  and  down  to  the  gate,  to  "  look  for 
papa,"  as  little  Edith  said.  • 

I  returned  to  the  Libby  with  sad  forebodings,  re- 
membering Mrs.  Weston's  slight,  drooping  figure,  and 
the  baby-face  she  held  against  her  own,  as  she  stood 
in  the  window  of  the  sitting-room  watching  my  de- 
parture. 

The  next  morning,  as  Harry  had  anticipated,  I  heard 
my  name  called  off  the  list  in  the  jailer's  hand,  and 
along  with  Doctor  Berry,  who  was  equally  fortunate,  I 
joined  the  detachment  on  their  way  to  exchange  and 
freedom. 

One  of  the  first  faces  I  saw  at  Fortress  Monroe  was 
Mr.  Masters'.  He  had  been  informed  of  my  capture 
soon  after  it  occurred,  but  not  hearing  further  tidings 
of  me,  as  my  letters  never  reached  home,  he  had  at 
length  started  alone,  determined  on  finding  me,  if  alive. 
At  Washington  he  could  ascertain  nothing  definite,  so 
he  set  out  for  Fortress  Monroe,  and  was  more  fortunate 
in  his  search.  He  visited  the  hospitals,  whtre  many  of 
our  returned  prisoners  were  lying  sick,  and  one  of  them, 
who  had  been  in  the  Libby  with  me,  informed  him  of 
my  presence  there,  and  of  my  good  health.  Overjoyed 
at  this  news,  Mr.  Masters  wrote  home  at  once,  but  made 
up  his  mind  to  stay  on,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  me  ex- 
changed. 


CHAPTER  XIY. 


BETWEEN    TOE   KIFLE-PITS   AT  FKEDEEICKSBUEG. 


went  to  Washington  together,  as  I  intended 
asking  for  leave  of  absence,  and  going  home  for  a  few 
weeks.  I  was  disappointed  in  my  calculations.  AU 
though  near  the  end  of  December,  another  movement 
of  the  army  was  in  progress.  Every  thing  was  in  pre- 
paration for  the  coming  fight,  all  furloughs  had  been 
recalled,  and  we  were  ordered  to  rejoin  our  regiments 
without  delay.  The  division  to  which  mine  belonged 
was  then  at  Falmouth,  and,  having  consigned  all  my 
packages  and  letters  for  Mrs.  Johnson  and  Mr.  Fullerton 
to  Mr.  Masters'  care,  I  started  for  that  place,  accom- 
panied still  by  Doctor  Berry.  We  were  just  in  time 
for  the  opening  of  the  ball,  and  our  old  comrades  hailed 
our  appearance  with  delight.  The  division  was  under 
marching  orders,  and  at  daybreak  of  the  morning  fol- 
lowing our  arrival  we  started  toward  the  scene  of  the 
coming  battle.  We  were  halted  on  a  large  field  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  Rappahannock,  where  we  awaited 
the  orders  to  move  forward. 


336  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

Our  men  were  attempting  to  lay  the  bridges  under 
a  murderous  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  who 
were  stationed  in  the  houses  of  Fredericksburg.  They 
were  picked  off  by  dozens,  yet  the  work  went  on.  Be- 
fore morning  the  bridges  were  finished,  and  our  forces 
crossed  under  a  heavy  cannonade  from  the  rebel  batteries, 
and  slowly  drove  the  men  out  of  the  city  and  into  their 
earthworks.  • 

The  main  body  of  the  enemy  was  strongly  posted 
on  the  side  of  a  sloping  hill  commanding  the  city — the 
batteries  and  rifle-pits,  with  the  lines  of  infantry  sup- 
porting them,  being  plainly  visible  to  our  soldiers  as 
they  advanced  against  them.  Our  lines  of  battle  had 
been  formed  in  a  hollow  back  of  the  city,  and  under  a 
hot  fire  the  men  marched  steadily  toward  the  first  row 
of  rifle-pits.  Though  terribly  cut  down,  they  carried 
it,  and  went  into  the  second,  but,  being  unable  to  hold 
that,  they  fell  back  on  the  first,  and  remained  there  all 
night.  In  marching  up  the  slope,  my  regiment  had 
been  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire,  and  a  shell  had  burst  in 
the  ranks,  killing  and  wounding  a  number  of  the  men. 

That  night,  when  out  with  one  of  the  parties  that 
were  bringing  in  the  wounded,  I  came  upon  a  group  of 
pi-ivates  belonging  to  my  own  regiment.  They  had 
stolen  out  of  the  rifle-pit  which  our  men  were  holding, 
and  were  searching  for  their  own  comrades  who  had 
fallen  during  the  fight.  They  succeeded  in  finding  a 
number  of  them,  and  carrying  them  off  the  field.  Still 
later,  I  met  them  as  they  returned  from  burying  those 


BETWEEN  THE  EIFLE-PITS  AT   FEEDERICKSBUBG.   337 

that  were  killed.  It  was  a  deserted  part  of  the  field, 
some  distance  from  the  line  of  sentinels,  and  they 
stopped  to  light  their  pipes,  which  they  contrived  to 
carry  and  save,  under  all  circumstances. 

"  Is  Lieutenant  Williams  safe  ?  "  I  asked.  He  was 
my  best  friend  in  the  regiment,  and  I  always  thought 
of  him  first  after  a  battle.  He  was  daring  and  cool, 
and  never  hesitated  to  expose  himself  when  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  encourage  the  men,  though  at  the  same 
time  he  was  never  reckless  or  foolhardy.  The  mem- 
bers of  his  company  were  fond  of  him ;  he  was  just  the 
man  to  gain  their  respect,  and  keep  it  when  won.  He 
had  told  me  many  things  concerning  his  family  and 
himself.  He  was  an  only  child,  and  his  mother  had 
been  left  a  widow  before  he  had  reached  his  seventh 
birthday.  She  had  a  small  income,  on  which  she  had 
managed  to  give  him  a  good  education.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  he  held  a  fine  position  in  a  wholesale  house  in 
New  York,  one  that  promised  rapid  advancement,  and 
he  was  engaged  to  be  married.  At  that  time  he  be- 
longed to  a  militia  regiment  that  was  among  the  first 
to  start  for  Washington ;  and  when  it  returned  home 
he  thought  it  his  duty  to  give  up  his  place  in  the  store 
and  remain  in  the  army.  He  enlisted  as  a  private,  and 
had  been  promoted  for  bravery  and  good  conduct  to 
the  first  lieutenancy.  He  had  made  quite  a  confidant 
of  me,  and  often  read  to  me  scraps  of  news  out  of  the 
letters  that  he  received  from  his  mother,  and  the  young 
lady  to  whom  he  was  engaged.  He  would  sit  for  hours 
15 


338  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

with  me,  smoking  gravely,  while  he  discussed  his  future 
prospects,  and  the  plans  he  had  laid  for  himself,  in  case 
he  should  survive  the  war. 

"  For,  Wilmer,"  he  would  say,  "  I  am  determined  to 
see  this  thing  out  first,  provided  they  leave  me  my  limbs 
to  do  it  with." 

When  I  inquired  for  him,  the  man  before  me  dropped 
his  eyes  on  the  ground,  and  shook  his  head. 

"  He  fell  outside  our  line,  sir,"  he  answered.  "  lie 
was  all  right  till  we  tried  to  take  the  second  row  of 
rifle-pits.  I  didn't  see  him  in  the  retreat ;  the  boys  say 
that  he  is  lying  just  between  our  sentinels  and  the  rebs. 
Some  of  them  tried  to  bring  him  off,  but  the  fire  was  too 
hot,  and  they  had  to  leave  him  there." 

"  Then  he  was  alive  ?  "  I  said. 

"  He  was  then,  for  he  spoke  to  them.  He  told  them 
to  take  care  of  themselves  and  not  mind  him,  that  he 
was  not  able  to  rise.  They  think  his  leg  was  broken. 
I  wish  we  could  bring  him  in,  sir." 

"It  will  be  a  hard  piece  of  work,"  said  another. 
"  If  the  rebs  see  us,  they'll  fire  on  us,  sure." 

"  Let  us  try,"  I  said.  "  Does  any  one  here  know 
where  he  lies  ?  " 

"  No,  sir;  but  we  can  get  one  of  the  men  that  saw 
him.  Perhaps  he  can  remember." 

With  cautious  steps  and  bent  forms  we  crept  into 
the  ditch  where  our  boys  were  lying,  and  found  the  one 
we  needed.  Then  we  picked  our  way  among  the  dead 
bodies  covering  the  ground  around  us,  and  at  last 


BETWEEN  THE  EIFLE-PITS  AT  FBEDERICKSBUEG.    339 

reached  the  open  space  beyond  our  line  of  pickets. 
Our  guide  went  slowly  along,  and  we  followed  with 
our  lanterns,  and  a  litter  destined  for  our  unfortunate 
officer.  It  was  a  cold,  windy  night,  and,  happily  for  us, 
became  quite  dark,  as  the  clouds  drifted  between  us 
and  the  moon,  and  remained  there  until  our  work  was 
over.  We  came  at  last  upon  the  object  of  our  search. 
He  was  insensible-from  cold  and  loss  of  blood,  and  it 
was  some  time  before  our  efforts  to  revive  him  proved 
successful. 

Then  we  raised  him  on  the  litter,  and  began  our  re- 
treat as  rapidly  as  we  could  move.  We  were  quite 
near  our  own  picket,  and  the  men  bearing  the  litter 
were  already  inside  the  line,  when  one  of  the  party,  in 
his  haste,  stumbled  over  a  body  lying  on  the  ground, 
and,  springing  up  with  a  quick  oath,  hurried  after  the 
others  Avithout  looking  back.  I  was  just  behind  him, 
and  a  low  moan  from  the  form  that  he  supposed  dead 
reached  my  ear.  I  flashed  my  lantern  over  it  almost 
mechanically,  and  saw  that  it  was  a  soldier  in  the  gray 
uniform.  He  was  lying  with  his  face  hidden  on  his 
arm,  and  the  life-blood  was  flowing  from  a  small 
wound  in  the  side.  His  attitude  denoted  perfect  con- 
sciousness, as  if  he  were  sensible  of  his  condition  and 
approaching  death,  and  awaited  it  with  calmness. 

Even  as  I  bent  over  him  he  sighed  heavily,  and  a 
choking  sob  that  shook  his  whole  frame  met  my  ear. 

"  Can  I  help  you  ?"  I  asked,  laying  my  hand  on  his 
shoulder,  the  utter  misery  and  loneliness  of  his  position 


340  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

awakening  all  my  sympathies.  He  raised  his  head  with 
an  effort,  and  turned  his  eyes  on  me.  Never  shall  I  forget 
the  sickening  sensation  of  horror  that  rushed  over  me  as 
I  met  that  despairing  look,  nor  the  bright,  happy  expres- 
sion that  lit  up  the  worn,  sad  face  as  he  recognized  me. 

"  Oh,  Harry  !  Harry  ! "  was  all  I  could  say,  in  my 
shocked  surprise. 

"  Jack,"  he  muttered  feebly,  "  this  is  a  mercy  that 
I  have  prayed  for,  and  my  prayer  is  answered.  Oh, 
how  I  have  longed  for  the  sight  of  a  living  face,  and 
the  sound  of  a  friendly  voice  !  What  weary  hours  I 
have  passed  lying  here,  clinging  to  life  with  the  hope 
of  seeing  some  one  that  would  tell  my  poor  wife  of 
my  death ! " 

"  Do  not  talk  of  death,"  I  said,  as  gayly  as  I  could; 
"  let  us  see  what  our  united  skill  can  do  for  you." 

"  All  the  science  and  skill  in  the  world  would  be 
useless  here,  Jack,"  he  whispered,  his  voice  growing 
fainter  and  fainter.  "  There  is  no  way  of  stanching 
the  blood,  and  in  this  position  it  runs  slower  than  in 
any  other.  To  move  would  be  to  hasten  what  is  coming 
so  surely.  No  human  power  can  aid  me  now." 

He  lay  without  speaking  for  some .  minutes,  and  I 
leaned  over  him,  holding  his  hand  and  watching  the 
expressive,  features  that  changed  with  the  color  of  his 
thoughts. 

"  My  poor  wife  and  children  !  "  he  groaned  at  last, 
•  gazing  in  my  face  as  if  wishing  me  to  put  into  language 
the  ideas  that  he  was  unable  to  express. 


BETWEEN  THE  RIFLE-PITS  AT  FREDEKICKSBUBG.    341 

"  They  shall  not  want  for  any  thing  while  I  live,"  I 
said.  "  If  Mr.  Fullerton  is  unwilling  to  take  charge  of 
them,  they  shall  come  to  me.  In  either  case,  I  shall 
consider  it  a  pleasure  to  protect  them." 

"  They  must  not  be  dependent,"  he  gasped  ;  "  teach 
them  to  work  for  themselves." 

"  I  shall  do  exactly  as  you  wish  for  them,  if  you  will 
consent  to  trust  them  to  me." 

"  I  do,"  he  answered  ;  "  I  believe  that  you  will  do 
right  by  them." 

"  Then  you  will  try  and  not  feel  any  more  anxiety 
for  them,"  I  said,  looking  into  his  face. 

He  understood  me. 

"  Take  my  head  on  your  arm,  Jack,"  he  whispered  ; 
"  so ;  that  is  more  comfortable  than  the  hard  ground, 
even  if  the  change  does  cause  pain.  But  there  is  no 
victory  without  a  h'ght ;  no  crown  without  its  cross. 
In  these  last  few  hours  I  have  appreciated  more  than 
in  all  the  days  of  my  life  put  together  the  beauty  of  our 
faith,  and  the  comfort  that  it  contains.  The  last  time  I 
attended  church  in  Richmond,  I  heard  the  anthem  sung, 
*  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth.'  The  words  have 
floated  in  my  brain  ever  since  I  fell,  and  their  meaning 
has  come  home  to  me,  I  trust,  not  in  vain." 

He  smiled  faintly  and  closed  his  eyes,  but  a  moment 
after  opened  them  and  fixed  them  on  my  face. 

"  Jack,"  he  gasped,  "  how  nobly  your  brave  fellows 
fought  to-day !  They  threw  themselves  upon  certain 
death.  If  ever  men  deserved  to  win,  they  did.  But 


342  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

they  will  not ;  our  position  is  impregnable.  And  yet, 
how  they  struggle  to  maintain  a  principle,  while  we 
risk  all  to  defend  our  rights  and  homes  ! " 

"  Is  not  the  higher  warfare,"  I  said,  "  a  struggle  for 
a  principle  against  the  whole  world  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  murmured,  "  the  principle  of  truth." 
He  never  spoke  afterward.  I  laid  his  head  against 
my  breast,  and  took  his  hand  in  mine.  Lying  thus,  his 
breath  became  fainter  and  fainter,  until  at  length,  with 
one  last,  shivering  gasp,  all  was  over,  and  my  poor 
friend  lay  dead  beside  me.  "We  had  been  boys  at 
school  together,  chums  at  college,  companions  as  men, 
good  friends  always.  As  I  bent  over  the  dead  face,  I 
realized  that  I  had  lost  my  oldest  and  dearest  associate ; 
the  one  that  had  understood  me  best  and  valued  me  the 
most.  I  smoothed  the  tangled  curls,  still  bright  and 
golden,  over  the  sun-burned  forehead,  and  covered  with 
a  handkerchief  the  thin,  sunken  features,  whose  sad, 
suffering  expression  was  fast  disappearing  in  the  quiet 
peacefulness  of  death.  I  remembered,  with  a  bitter  pain 
at  my  heart,  that  I  would  never  meet  the  glance  of  his 
honest,  loving  eyes  again,  never  hear  the  cheerful  tones 
of  his  kindly  voice,  never  feel  the  warm  grasp  of  his 
strong,  friendly  hand.  I  regretted  leaving  him  thus  on 
the  frozen  battle-ground,  but  on  looking  around  me  for 
help,  I  saw  only  the  picket  walking  back  and  forward 
on  his  post.  The  men  had  all  hastened  away  to  the 
regiment,  and  my  poor  friend,  like  many  other  brave 
men  on  both  sides,  would  probably  fill  "  a  nameless 


BETWEEN  THE  EIFLE-PITS  AT  FREDEEICKSBUEG.    343 

grave."  The  thought,  I  knew,  had  never  troubled  him ; 
he  had  fallen  in  the  cause  to  which  he  had  devoted 
himself,  and  would  be  buried  on  the  field  for  which  he 
had  fought.  Lest  strange  and  careless  hands  should 
place  him  in  the  ground,  I  took  from  his  pockets  the 
few  things  they  contained  and  fastened  them  securely 
in  my  own.  He  had  no  watch  with  him,  and  very  little 
money ;  but  in  one  of  the  pockets  of  his  old  purse  was 
a  small  colored  photograph  of  his  wife  and  a  braid  of 
her  hair.  Thinking  that  they  might  serve  to  identify 
him  at  a  future  day,  I  placed  them  on  his  breast, 
hoping  that  they  would  escape  observation,  and  be 
buried  with  him. 

That  done,  I  looked  on  his  face  for  the  last  time, 
and  returned  with  a  heavy  heart  to  the  city.  There  I 
ascertained  that  my  regiment  had  been  relieved,  and 
was  already  in  Fredericksburg.  I  found  the  boys,  after 
a  long  search,  in  the  act  of  preparing  supper.  They  had 
stacked  arms  on  the  sidewalk,  and  were  enjoying  their 
rest  from  duty — a  rest  very  acceptable  after  lying  for 
thirty  hours  among  the  dead  and  dying  on  the  battle- 
field. Later  I  sat  by  Lieutenant  Williams,  and  wrote, 
at  his  dictation,  to  his  mother.  He  was  doing  well,  and 
was  overjoyed  at  the  thought  that  his  leg  would  be 
saved,  the  doctors  having  at  first  feared  the  necessity 
of  amputation. 

The  next  day  was  occupied  in  removing  our  wounded 
across  the  river,  and  the  men  stationed  in  the  city  enter- 
tained themselves  by  going  through  the  houses  and  en- 


344  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

joying  in  anticipation  the  pleasure  of  sleeping  in  them 
that  night.  They  were,  however,  disappointed  in  their 
hopes,  for  at  dark  the  evacuation  was  in  progress,  and 
the  next  day  the  troops  were  back  in  their  old  quarters 
at  Falmouth.  % 

As  soon  as  I  could  take  the  tune,  I  communicated 
with  Mrs.  Weston,  and  proposed  her  removal  to  the 
North.  Her  reply  was  long  in  reaching  me.  As  I  had 
anticipated,  she  refused  to  leave  her  mother-in-law  in 
her  desolate  condition,  but  promised  to  consider  my 
plan  for  sending  her  children,  in  charge  of  their  nurse, 
through  the  lines.  I  had  written  the  full  particulars  of 
the  case  to  my  sister,  and  she  was  quite  ready  to  help 
me  in  carrying  my  ideas  into  practice. 

The  troops  were  in  winter  quarters,  no  important 
movement  was  in  contemplation,  and  the  old  routine  of 
hospital-work  was  again  going  on.  The  buildings  as- 
signed to  the  use  of  our  wounded  were  all  crowded,  and, 
as  fast  as  it  was  possible  to  remove  them,  the  men  were 
forwarded  to  the  other  cities.  Mrs.  Weston  had  re- 
quested me,  if  convenient,  to  see  her  father,  and  hear 
his  opinion  as  to  what  she  should  do.  I  surmised,  from 
what  she  said,  that  she  had  written  to  the  old  gentle- 
man herself,  and  that  his  answer  had  not  been  entirely 
satisfactory  to  her.  I  concluded  to  accompany  a  de- 
tachment of  our  wounded  to  New  York,  and  see  Mr. 
Fullerton  on  the  matter.  It  was  now  February.  The 
calm  that  follows  the  storm  had  settled  down  over  us. 
The  soldiers  in  camp  were  mostly  employed  in  arran- 


BETWEEN  THE  KEFLE-PITS  AT  FKEDERICKSBTTKG.    345 

ging  original  amusements  for  themselves,  and  making 
merry  over  the  boxes  of  good  things  sent  to  them  by 
their  families  at  home.  The  officers,  as  many  as  could, 
had  received  furloughs,  and  gone  to  their  own  cities, 
to  be  caressed,  and  listened  to  as  heroes.  The  sick  and 
wounded  were  looking  forward  with  eager  joy  to  the 
day  on  which  they  might  start  for  home.  "Washington 
was  dull  to  me ;  the  daily  sight  of  so  much  misery  and 
death  exerts  a  gloomy  influence  on  those  brought  in 
such  close  contact  with  them. 

Lieutenant  Williams  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  go 
to  his  mother's  house,  where,  surrounded  by  every  care 
and  loving  attention,  he  was  rapidly  regaining  strength 
and  spirits.  It  was,  therefore,  with-  a  feeling  of  real 
pleasure  that  I  started  one  morning,  early  in  March, 
with  a  party  of  convalescents,  for  New  York,  having  in 
my  pocket  a  two  weeks'  furlough.  Arrived  there.  I 
gave  up  my  charge  at  the  rooms  of  the  New  Englafid 
Society  on  Broadway,  and  sauntered  up  to  the  St. 
Nicholas  with  slow  steps,  determined  to  enjoy  every 
moment  of  my  freedom  from  duty.  Once  there,  in  a 
cosy  little  room,  with  a  hot  dinner  before  me,  I  debated 
with  myself  what  I  should  do  first,  in  order  to  have  the 
most  time  to  spend  at  home. 

It  was  necessary  for  me  to  see  Mr.  Fullcrton,  and  I 
concluded  to  do  so  without  delay ;  so  I  took  his  address 
from  his  daughter's  letter,  and  left  the  hotel  for  his 
place  of  business.  I  found  him  at  his  desk,  writing  so 

busily,  that  he  took  no  notice  of  me  for  some  minutes, 
15* 


346  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

and  I  stood  aside  to  await  his  leisure,  in  the  mean  time 
closely  studying  his  appearance.  I  was  in  full  uniform, 
and  it  struck  me  afterward  that  he  had  in  glancing  at 
me  divined  who  I  was,  and  my  motive  in  seeking  him  ; 
and  that,  while  apparently  studying  the  ledger  before 
him,  he  was  in  reality  forming  his  replies  to  my  re- 
marks. 

He  was  a  short  man,  and  remarkably  well  preserved 
for  his  age,  which  must  have  been  at  least  fifty-five. 
He  was  well  shaven,  and  his  hair  was  arranged  so  as 
to  hide  any  sign  of  baldness.  His  clothes  were  of  the 
finest  black,  cut  in  the  latest  style,  and  fitting  admira- 
bly his  neat,  straight  figure ;  even  his  neck-tie  was  of 
the  most  boyish  pattern,  and  his  whole  appearance  was 
decidedly  youthful.  His  face,  however,  when  at  last  he 
turned  to  me,  was  hard,  cold,  and  impassive.  There 
was  nothing  young  or  impulsive  in  his  small,  glittering 
bloc  eyes,  and  thin,  firm  lips.  I  argued  badly  for  Mrs. 
Weston's  case  as  I  handed  him  my  card.  He  read  it 
slowly,  as  far  as  I  could  see  not  recognizing  the  name. 

"  And  to  what  am  I  indebted  for  the  pleasure  of  this 
visit  ?  "  he  asked,  fixing  his'eyes  on  my  face,  and  moving 
his  lips  slowly ;  there  was  no  other  change  of  features. 

I  explained  briefly  my  old  friendship  with  his  dead 
son-in-law,  and  the  necessity  of  removing  his  widow 
and  orphans  from  Richmond. 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  he  eaid,  slowly,  leaning  an 
elbow  on  the  desk  to  steady  himself,  and  regarding  me 
with  a  searching  look  from  his  high  office  stool. 


BETWEEN  THE  RIFLE-PITS  AT  FBEDEEICKSBUKG.    347 

"  You  must  be  aware  of  the  increasing  poverty  of  the 
Southern  country,  and  of  the  complete  helplessness  of 
your  daughter.  Her  youngest  child  is  but  five  months 
old." 

"  Weston  represented  himself  as  being  well  off,  when 
he  married  my  daughter  Edith." 

"  And  he  was  so  at  that  time ;  but  you  must  recol- 
lect what  has  happened  since  then.  He  was  not  the 
only  one  that  this  war  beggared.  He,  with  others, 
staked  all  he  owned  on  this  contest — " 

"  The  more  fool  he !  Why  the  deuce  didn't  he  sell 
out  and  come  North,  as  others  did  ?  " 

"  You  forget  that,  with  his  convictions,  such  a  pro- 
ceeding would  have  been  most  dishonorable.  We  do 
not  respect  those  who  live  among  us  and  yet  sneer  at  us 
at  the  same  time." 

"  I  know  nothing  about  that ;  a  man  should  look  out 
for  his  own.  Honor  is  thought  very  little  of,  if  there  is 
no  money  to  back  it.  He  brought  this  trouble  on  his 
wife  himself." 

Mr.  Fullerton  was  as  cool  as  ice.  I  felt  myself  grow- 
ing warm. 

"  If  you  please,"  I  said,  "  we  will  leave  Mr.  Weston 
out  of  the  question.  The  present  position  of  his  wife  is 
what  we  have  to  talk  about." 

"  What  has  become  of  Weston' s  relatives  ?  He  men- 
tioned having  a  great  number." 

"They  are  all  in  the  same  trouble  with  regard  to 
means.  What  they  have  is  invested  in  Confederate 


348  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

bonds.  A  man  can  do  much,  even  if  involved,  for  his 
family;  a  woman,  left  as  Mrs.  Weston  is,  has  no  re- 
sources." 

"She  had  a  fine  education,  and  was  considered  tal- 
ented," he  went  on. 

"  Yes,  but  at  present  her  knowledge  is  unavailable  as 
a  means  of  support.  Her  health  is  not  very  good ;  she 
could  hardly  undertake  much  work.  She  will  not  leave 
her  husband's  mother,  but  she  can  be  relieved  of  the  care 
and  anxiety  of  her  children.  Her  pride  is  such  that, 
unless  entirely  unassisted  by  you,  she  will  not  accept 
any  aid  from  me." 

Mr.  Fullerton  thought  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
commenced  again. 

"  Doctor  Wilmer,  the  facts  of  the  case  are  these ;  I 
have  lost  heavily  in  this  trouble,  and  do  not  feel  myself 
able  to  undertake,  at  my  age,  the  whole  expense  of  so 
many  persons.  It  is  a  duty  or  rather  a  kindness  which 
I  never  anticipated  being  called  upon  to  perform.  My 
daughter  kept  house  for  me  for  some  years,  and  when  she 
married  to  please  herself  I  was  obliged  to  fill  her  place. 
In  fact,  I  married  again,  and  the  present  Mrs.  Fullerton 
is,  if  any  thing,  younger  than  my  daughter.  Of  course, 
she  is  mistress  of  my  house,  and  such  an  addition  to  our 
family  as  you  propose  could  hardly  be  acceptable  to  her, 
neither  would  a  secondary  position  in  my  household  be 
suitable  for  Mrs.  Weston,  my  daughter.  You  see  that 
such  an  arrangement  is  entirely  out  of  the  question." 

"  And  Mrs.  Weston's  brothers  ?  "  I  said. 


BETWEEN  THE  EIFLE-PITS  AT  FEEDEKICKSBUKG.    349 

"  They  are  both  married,  and  would  hardly  be  able 
to  undertake  such  a  responsibility." 

"Very  well,"  I  answered.  "I  wished  to  settle  the 
matter  at  once.  I  thank  you  for  your  explanation." 

I  wished  him  good-by,  and  he  accompanied  me  to 
the  door  most  politely,  regretting,  as  he  did  so,  his 
inability  to  comply  with  his  daughter's  request.  His 
perfect  coolness  and  urbanity  were  striking.  "If  at 
any  future  time  I  can  do  any  thing  to  further  her  chil- 
dren's interests,  why,  call  on  me,"  he  remarked,  as  I 
quitted  him.  I  bowed  deeply  in  return  for  this  con- 
descension, and  took  my  way  to  the  hotel,  pondering  on 
my  last  lesson  in  human  nature. 

"  So,"  'I  said  to  myself,  "  that  is  Mrs.  Weston's 
father.  How  very  unlike  a  parent  and  child  may  be  ! 
No  wonder  she  was  so  much  attached  to  my  generous- 
hearted,  impulsive  friend." 

On  reaching  my  room,  I  found  a  letter  there  that 
had  been  forwarded  to  me  from  "Washington.  It  was 
from  Richmond,  and  contained  news.  Mrs.  Weston, 
unable  any  longer  to  meet  all  the  demands  made  upon 
her  purse  and  strength,  had  consented  to  accept  my 
proffered  services.  Her  children,  with  their  faithful  old 
nurse,  would  leave  Richmond  on  the  first  opportunity, 
and  she  begged  of  me  to  meet  them  on  their  arrival 
within  our  lines.  She  herself  had  concluded  to  retain 
two  rooms  in  her  house,  and  rent  the  others  to  tran- 
sient lodgers,  intending  to  maintain  the  old  lady  on  the 
money  she  would  receive  from  them. 


350  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

I  replied  at  once,  telling  her  that  I  should  leave  di- 
rectly for  Fortress  Monroe,  and  giving  her,  in  as  few 
words  as  possible,  the  result  of  my  interview  with  her 
father.  That  done,  I  concluded  that  I  could  not  go 
home ;  so  I  telegraphed  to  my  sister  to  join  me  in  New 
York,  and  then  set  about  making  the  necessary  prepara- 
tions for  the  comfort  of  poor  Harry's  orphans. 

The  following  day  I  met  my  sister  at  the  railroad 
depot,  and  we  started  a  few  hours  afterward  for  Annap- 
olis. On  our  arrival  at  Fortress  Monroe,  I  commenced 
my  search  for  Mrs.  Weston's  children,  as  a  number  of 
refugees  had  entered  our  lines  during  my  passage  from 
New  York.  I  could  hear  nothing  of  them,  however, 
and  so  we  remained  there  ready  to  receive  them.  I  felt, 
as  the  days  slipped  by,  that  my  chances  for  reaching 
home  during  that  leave  of  absence  were  becoming  less 
and  less  possible,  and  I  was  right  in  my  calculation.  It 
wanted  two  days  of  the  expiration  of  my  furlough, 
when  we  heard  that  a  number  of  women  and  children 
were  on  their  way  to  Fortress  Monroe  from  Richmond. 
My  sister  and  I  were  at  the  landing  when  the  boat  con 
taining  them  arrived,  and  ;we  scanned  with  eagerness 
the  little  groups  collected  on  the  deck.  One  at  last 
fixed  our  attention.  A  short,  stout  colored  woman,  in 
a  faded  cotton  gown,  with  a  woollen  shawl  pinned  close 
about  her  neck,  and  an  old  bandanna  twisted  around  her 
head,  stood  holding  on  one  arm  a  baby  wrapped  up  in 
a  large  cloak,  and  on  the  other  a  little  girl  of  three  years 
whose  hands  were  clasping  her  neck.  Beside  her,  grasp- 


BETWEEN  THE  ErFLE-PITS  AT  FEEDEEICKSBUEG.    351 

ing  her  gown  was  a  little  boy  dressed  in  gray  home- 
spun. 

"  John,"  said  ray  sister,  catching  sight  of  them,  and 
turning  to  me  with  tearful  eyes — "  John,  I  think  they 
are  Mrs.  Weston's  children.  See  how  their  nurse,  looks 
from  them  to  the  shore,  as  'if  searching  for  some  one 
that  she  knows." 

_  "  I  am  almost  sure  of  them,"  I  said.     "  We  will  go 
to  them  at  once." 

Making  our  way  with  difficulty,  we  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  little  group.  As  we  approached  them, 
Master  Harry  recognized  me,  and  bounding  forward  he 
caught  my  hand,  his  face,  which  was  his  father's  in  min- 
iature, lighting  up  with  pleasure. 

"  Mamma  told  me  to  do  exactly  as  you  wished,"  he 
exclaimed, "  and,  oh,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  ! "  he  add- 
ed, with  a  long  sigh,  which,  under  other  circumstances, 
would  have  provoked  a  smile  at  its  precociousness. 

The  nurse's  face  beamed  with  joy,  and  she  expressed 
her  delight  in  language  almost  unintelligible  to  my  sis- 
ter. The  latter  had  taken  little  Edith  in  her  arms,  and, 
holding  Master  Harry's  haijfl,  I  led  the  way  off  the 
boat.  My  time  was  nearly  up,  and  so,  after  a  very 
short  rest,  we  started  for  Annapolis,  at  which  place  we 
would  separate,  I  going  on  to  Washington,  and  my  sis- 
ter taking  the  little  ones  and  their  nurse  to  New  York, 
and  from  thence  home. 

On  the  steamer,  nurse  Flo,  as  the  children  called 
her,  gave  me  the  messages  intrusted  to  her  by  her  mis- 


352  DR.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

tress.  From  them  I. inferred  that  Mrs.  Western's  own 
health  was  causing  her  much  anxiety,  and  that  the  old 
lady  was  sinking  rapidly.  In  her  own  odd  language, 
Florida  told  me,  the  terrible  effect  that  her  master's 
death  had  had  upon  his  wife.  She  had  received  intelli- 
gence of  it  the  day  after  it  occurred,  and  the  shock  had 
nearly  killed  her.  His  mother,  owing  most  probably  to 
her  weak  condition,  had  taken  the  news  very  quietly 
and  as  if  prepared  for  it.  That  her  young  mistress  had 
never  looked  the  same  since,  but  went  about  like  a 
shadow,  speaking  little,  and  crying  when  alone  as  if  her 
heart  would  break,  did  not  surprise  me.  I  could  under- 
stand her  grief,  and  appreciate  its  real  sincerity  and 
depth. 

Florida's  fidelity  was  a  touching  tribute  fo  the  kind- 
ness of  her  owner,  and  a  proof  of  her  own  honesty 
and  single-mindeclness.  She  was  sitting  in  the  cabin  of 
the  steamer,  playing  with  the  baby,  and  I  was  deter- 
mined, before  leaving  them,  to  find  out  her  ideas  of  her 
own  position,  and  whether  I  might  trust  to  her  remain- 
ing with  the  children.  I  told  her  that  she  was  .free  to 
go  where  she  pleased,  that  there  was  no  longer  any  one 
to  control  her  actions.  She  said  that  she  knew  all  that ; 
her  mistress  had  explained  it  to  her,  and  told -her  that 
others  would  pay  her  well  for  her  work,  whereas  she 
could  afford  to  give  her  very  little. 

"Well,"  I  asked.  "Have  you  made  up  your 
mind?" 

Her  answer  was,  "  That  money  was  no  good  to  her ; 


BETWEEN  THE  EIFLE-PITS  AT  FREDERICKSBUBG.    353 

what  she  wanted  was  to  have  food  and  clothes,  and  a 
place  to  live  in.  Besides,  she  had  been  born  and  brought 
up  in  the  "Weston  family;  they  had  taken  care  of  her, 
and  had  been  kind  t*>  her  always,  and  if  Mrs.  Weston 
would  let  her,  she  would  stay  with  her  and  her  children 
as  long  as  she  lived." 

As  she  spoke,  her  tears  fell  on  the  little  waxen  hands 
of  baby  Jack,  that  were  grasping  hers  in  play,  and  I  felt 
that  I  could  depend  upon  her  faithfulness. 

At  Annapolis  my  sister  bought  her  some  bright,  new 
bandannas,  and  pair  of  wondrous  gold  ear-rings,  remark- 
able for  their  size,  which  threw  her  into  ecstasies  of  de- 
light ;  and  having  supplied  the  children  with  toys  to 
enliven  and  shorten  their  tedious  journey,  I  saw  them 
off  in  high  spirits,  and  in  happy  ignorance  of  their  own 
sorrowful  position. 

Later,  I  received  letters,  telling  me  of  their  safe 
arrival  in  my  mother's  house,  and  of  the  warm  welcome 
they  received  from  young  Mrs.  Lecount,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Masters ;  together  with  ^,  long  description  of  the 
friendship  already  existing  between  Arthur  and  Harry, 
and  of  the  merry  games  they  played,  into  which  even 
little  Edith  entered  with  joy,  and  at  which  Master  Jack 
clapped  his  tiny  hands  with  delight. 

"  Once  more,"  my  sister  wrote, "  the  house  is  bright 
with  the  presence  of  little  children,  and  merry  with  their 
childish  laughter.  Mother  is  growing  active  and  ener- 
getic again,  and  looks  better  than  she  did  since  you  went 
away.  The  '  pets,'  as  we  call  them,  are  always  together, 


354  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

either  here  or  at  Mr.  Masters',  and  Florida  with  her 
fidelity,  her  bandanna,  and  her  ear-rings,  is  the  -wonder 
of  the  village,  and  the  '  observed  of  all  observers.' " 

I  forwarded  my  sister's  letter- to  Mrs.  Weston,  and 
received  a  reply  from  her,  in  which  she  expressed  her 
entire  satisfaction  with  what  had  been  done,  and  also 
mentioned  her  own  improvement  in  health  since  being 
relieved  of  so  much  anxiety. 

Toward  the  end  of  April  she  sent  me  information  of 
her  mother-in-law's  death,  and  her  own  intention  to 
proceed  at  once  to  the  North,  leaving  her  house  at  the 
disposal  of  some  of  her  husband's  relatives,  who  had 
offered  to  do  the  best  they  could  with  it  for  her  benefit. 
A  week  after,  I  met  her  at  Fortress  Monroe,  where  she 
had  arrived  a  day  or  two  previously,  and  was  waiting 
for  the  departure  of  a  steamer  for  New  York.  "We  had 
a  long  interview,  and  I  listened  to  the  plans  that  she  had 
formed  in  her  mind  with  surprise.  She  intended  to  see 
her  father  at  once,  .and  ask  him  to  assist  her  in  establishing 
a  school  in  New  York.  She  was  so  hopeful  and  cheerful ; 
so  earnest  in  her  desires  to  do  all  for  her  children  alone ; 
so  determined  to  be  independent,  and  so  anxious  to  com- 
mence her  new  life  without  delay !  Yet  she  looked  deli- 
cate, and  perfectly  helpless ;  she  had  become  thin  and  pale, 
and  the  expression  of  her  eyes  had  changed ;  there  was  a 
timid  mournfulness  in  them  now,  that  they  would  retain 
always.  She  had  the  appearance  of  one  who  needed  care 
and  protection,  rather  than  of  a  person  ready  to  go  forth 
and  battle  with  the  world  and  its  disappointments. 


BETWEEN  THE  RIFLE-PITS  AT  FREDEEICESBURG.    355 

I  noticed  how  tender  she  was  of  her  husband's 
memory ;  how  carefully  she  refrained  from  saying  the 
least  thing  that  could  reflect  blame  upon  him,  or  impute 
to  his  actions  the  causes  of  the  troubles  that  had  fallen 
upon  her.  She  seemed  sanguine  of  obtaining  her  father's 
aid  in  spite  of  all  that  had  passed,  and  I  did  not  like  to 
chill  her  hopes  with  my  convictions  to  the  contrary. 

I  placed  her  on  board  the  steamer,  in  charge  of  an 
officer  with  whom  I  was  acquainted,  who  was'  going 
home  with  his  wife,  and  then  returned  to  Washington, 
where  I  awaited  intelligence  of  her  safe  arrival  in  New 
York,  and  the  result  of  her  meeting  with  her  father. 

As  I  had  anticipated,  the  interview  was  not  satis- 
factory ;  and  my  sister  having  joined  her  there,  she  has- 
tened at  once  to  see  her  children,  from  whom  she  had 
been  so  long  separated.  Shortly  after  the  affair  at 
Chancellorsville,  I  heard  that  she  had  been  offered  the 
teachership  of  the  public  school  in  our  village,  and  had 
accepted  it  with  pleasure.  In  addition,  she  had  obtained 
a  number  of  music-pupils,  who  came  to  the  house  for 
their  lessons,  and  was  improving  daily  in  spirits. 


CHAPTER  XY. 

IN  THE   FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTYSBURG. 

"WHAT!  Doctor  Wilmer,  is  it  you?  How  glad  I 
am  to  meet  you ! " 

It  was  early  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day  at 
Gettysburg.  I  was  standing  giving  directions  to  some 
of  the  men,  who  were  making  accommodations  for  the 
wounded,  when  this  salutation  was  uttered  beside  me. 
Turning  quickly,  I  saw  a  fine-looking  young  fellow  in  a 
colonel's  uniform,  mounted  on  a  powerful  horse,  bend- 
ing toward  me  with  outstretched  hand.  I  did  not  rec- 
ognize him  at  first,  owing  to  the  heavy  black  beard 
and  mustache  covering  the  lower  part  of  his  face,  and 
the  cap  pressed  down  upon  his  forehead,  to  protect  his 
eyes  from  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun.  The  next  mo- 
ment I  remembered  him — the  young  fellow  who,  two 
years  before,  when  a  mere  boy,  had  taken  his  company 
to  Washington. 

"  Victor,  is  it  possible  ?  "  I  exclaimed,  in  my  sur- 
prise. "  How  much  you  have  changed  !  " 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  I  have ;  but  you  look  the  same  as 


IN  THE  FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTYSBURG.         357 

ever.  When  did  you  hear  from  home  ?  I  have  been 
moving  from  place  to  place  so  much,  that  my  letters 
have  all  missed  me  for  the  last  three  weeks." 

"  They  were  all  well  five  days  ago,"  I  said.  "  How 
proud  they  must  feel  when  they  think  of  you  !  War 
agrees  with  you." 

"  Yes,  I  like  it  better  than  poring  over  musty  old  law- 
books  in  a  dusty  office.  If  I  live  to  see  this  thing  out, 
I  shall  try  and  obtain  a  position  in  the  regular  army. 
The  life  suits  me." 

"  It  is  certainly  more  exciting  than  a  quiet  profes- 
sion, and  repays  those  who  are  daring,  and  fond  of  the 
glory  attached  to  it ;  still,  your  promotion  has  been 
unusually  rapid." 

"  Yes,"  he  replied.  "  Our  regiment  has  been  all 
along  doing  good  service,  and  our  poor  fellows  were 
picked  off  before  their  straps  were  tarnished.  I  suppose 
it  will  be  the  same  way  with  me." 

"  Have  you  escaped  so  far  ?  " 

"  Yes,  pretty  well ;  I  got  a  slight  scratch  at  Antie- 
tam  on  my  arm,  but  it  was  not  enough  to  pension  me 
for.  I  used  to  lie  in  the  hospital  there  at  Washington, 
and  long  for  the  sight  of  a  home  face." 

"  And  your  sister,  Miss  Pauline ;  was  she  not  there  ?  " 

"  No,  not  at  that  time ;  she"was  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
I  believe  she  is  there  now.  I  have  scarcely  seen  her 
since  Claude's  death ;  she  took  it  terribly  to  heart.  Do 
you  know,  Wilmer,  I  never  could  understand  how  all 
his  misfortunes  came  about.  He  was  always  so  steady 


358  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

at  home — father  had  the  highest  hopes  of  him  ;  but  he 
told  me  one  time,  in  speaking  of  Claude,  that,  once  in 
New  York,  he  seemed  to  lose  his  reason.  Such  a  nice 
little  wife  as  he  had  too ;  no  one  could  have  been  more 
agreeable  than  she  was  to  us  all.  She  writes  to  me  fre- 
quently such  kind  letters !  Poor  fellow,  he  might  have 
done  as  I  did,  and  fared  far  better.  If  killed,  his  death 
would  at  least  have  been  honorable."  He  sighed  heav- 
ily, and  trifled  with  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

"Our  boys  suffered  terribly  yesterday,"  I  said,  to 
change  the  current  of  his  thoughts. 

"Yes,"  he  replied.  "The  gray  jackets  made  sad 
havoc  in  the  First  corps ;  but  then  it  had  no  business 
to  commence  the  attack  with  such  a  small  number  of 
men.  We  are  going  to  have  it,  hot  and  heavy,  again 
to-day.  We  must  work  hard  if  we  would  save  the 
capital.  Our  men  are  pretty  well  exhausted  now,  and 
the  whole  of  Lee's  army  is  on  the  field.  I  must  go,  for 
I  tell  you  the  sight  of  the  wounded  don't  tend  to  raise 
a  fellow's  spirits.  Well — if  you  shouldn't  see  me  to- 
morrow, just  tell  my  family  that  I  tried  to  do  my  duty. 
Good-by."  He  bent  and  shook  my  hand,  .then  taking 
off  his  hat,  he  exclaimed :  "  The  Union  forever !  Hurrah, 
boys,  hurrah ! "  and  the  next  moment  was  galloping 
off  in  the  direction  of  a  column  of  our  troops  forming 
the  reserve. 

The  day  wore  on.  Our  boys,  as  fast  as  they  arrived, 
were  put  into  position,  and  the  struggle  was  relaxed 
only  to  be  renewed  with  fresh  vigor  and  enthusiasm. 


IN   THE   FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTYSBUEG.         359 

As  regiment  after  regiment  fell  back  to  the  reai',  their 
places  were  instantly  occupied,  and  all  that  long,  hot 
July  day  the  hand-to-hand  fight  continued.  Foot  by 
foot  the  ground  was  contested,  and  lost  or  won. 
Dense  clouds  of  smoke 'rose  over  the  fearful  struggle, 
and  floated  away,  only  to  be  succeeded  by  others  still 
heavier.  The  shrieks  of  the  wounded  were  mingled 
with  the  roar  of  artillery,  the  whizzing  of  the  dreaded 
shells,  and  the  continuous  rattle  of  musketry.  The  air 
was  heavy  with  the  smell  of  gunpowder,  the  smoke,  and 
the  dust ;  and  still  the  work  went  on,  as  if  each  individ- 
ual felt  in  his  own  heart  the  weight  of  the  responsibility 
resting  on  the  whole  army. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  regiment  that 
had  been  relieved,  and  ordered  to  the  rear,  came  strag- 
ling  toward  us;  and  the  men  having  stacked  arms, 
and  unfastened  their  belts,  quickly  lit  their  pipes,  and 
throwing  themselves  on  the  ground  in  attitudes  deno- 
ting extreme  fatigue,  they  gave  vent  to  the  feelings  so 
long  repressed,  and  discussed  in  noisy  tones  the  prog- 
ress of  the  fight. 

Their  tattered  colors,  shattered  ranks,  and  torn 
clothes,  gave  evidence  of  the  fierce  struggle  going  on 
in  the  front,  and  I  listened  with  interest  to  their  vari- 
ous opinions.  One  of  them  approached  me,  supported 
by  two  of  his  companions,  and,  looking  for  the  cause  of 
his  ghastly  face  and  tottering  steps,  I  saw  that  three 
of  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand  were  hanging,  almost 
severed  at  the  knuckles ;  the  sickening  sensation  caused 


360  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

by  the  sight  of  them  affecting  him  more  than  the  pain. 
While  I  dressed  his  wound  I  asked  him  the  number 
of  his  regiment. 

"  The  F— th  New  York,"  he  answered. 

"  Why,  that  is  Colonel  Lecount's  regiment !  "  I  ex- 
claimed. "  Is  he  safe  ?  " 

"  That  is  more  than  I  can  tell,  sir,"  he  answered. 
"  He  didn't  lead  us  off  the  field." 

"I  saw  him  go  down  myself,"  his  companion  re- 
marked. "  His  horse  fell  at  the  same  time." 

"  Then  you  don't  know  whether  he  was  carried  off 
or  not  ?  "  I  said. 

"I  think  not,  sir;  the  rebs  were  driving  us  at  the 
time,  and  we  did  not  recover  the  ground — " 

"  Yes,  but  the  boys  that  relieved  us  did.  I  could 
see  that  before  we  left,"  remarked  another  of  the  men 
who  had  joined  the  group.  "  We  were  dreadfully  cut 
up,"  he  continued,  in  a  tone  of  apology.  "  There's  not 
two  hundred  of  us  left." 

"  We  ought  to  go  and  find  the  colonel,"  said  a 
powerful-looking  man,  rising  from  the  ground  where  he 
had  been  stretched,  listening  to  us,  and  commencing  his 
preparations  by  slowly  knocking  the  ashes  out  of  his 
pipe,  and  replacing  it  in  the  band  of  his  cap.  Then 
clasping  his  belt,  he  looked  about  him,  in  anticipation 
of  an  assent  to  his  proposition. 

"I  shall  be  Avith  you  in  one  moment,"  I  said.  A 
dozen  voices  immediately  responded;  and,  guided  by  a 
captain  of  the  regiment,  we  took  our  way  toward  the 


IN   THE   FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTYSBUBG.         361 

point  where  it  had  been  stationed  that  morning.  Our 
principal  landmark  was  a  group  of  rocks,  in  the  shadow 
of  which  the  men  remembered  having  last  seen  their 
colonel.  On  that  spot  the  fight  was  obstinate,  hand  to 
hand,  and  as  the  line  wavered  and  broke,  young  Le- 
count  had  dashed  between  the  opposing  ranks,  calling 
on  his  soldiers  to  rally  around  him.  At  that  instant  he 
was  seen  to  fall,  and  in  the  momentary  consternation 
which  the  loss  of  a  trusted  leader  casts  over  a  regiment, 
the  rebels  made  a  desperate  charge,  and  the  whole  line 
was  pressed  back.  At  this  juncture  reinforcements 
arrived,  and  the  exhausted  men  were  ordered  to  the 
rear. 

The  captain  gave  me  the  particulars  as  we  crossed 
the  battle-field,  where  soldiers  and  horses  lay  dying  and 
dead,  in  undisputed  possession  of  the  hotly-contested 
ground.  My  companion  pointed  in  delight  to  the  proofs 
of  our  victory ;  and  we  gazed  with  pleasure  on  the  dis- 
tant clouds  of  smoke,  and  listened  to  the  thunders  of 
the  artillery,  conscious  that  our  brave  boys  were  push- 
ing back  the  heavy  columns  that  had  threatened  to 
overwhelm  us. 

Arriving  near  the  rocks,  we  found  that  the  battle 
was  still  raging  a  little  beyond  them,  between  the  left 
wing  of  our  army  and  the  right  of  the  enemy.  Stray 
bullets  whistled  over  our  heads,  and  the  ground  was 
torn  up  by  balls  from  the  rebel  batteries  posted  on  the 
rising  ground,  and  commanding  the  open  space  over 
which  we  had  to  pass.  The  men  hesitatcd*but  only  for 
16 


362  DK.  WLLMEK'S  LOVE. 

a  moment,  and  then  clashing  forward,  we  reached  a 
place  of  comparative  safety  in  the  shadow  of  the  rocks. 

The  ground  around  us  was  covered  with  dead  bodies. 
Friend  and  foe  had  fought  with  broken  muskets  and 
bayonets,  and  lay  as  they  had  fallen,  locked  in  each 
other's  arms.  The  clinched  hands  had  not  relaxed 
their  hold ;  the  stern  faces  yet  wore  -a  terrible  expres- 
sion of  pain,  mingled  with  fierce  hate.  Glaring  eyeballs, 
started  from  their  sockets,  and  covered  with  the  glassy 
film  of  death,  met  us  on  every  side.  Even  in  death,  the 
forms  possessed  an  air  of  fixed  determination,  a  steady, 
resolute  look,  as  if  they  had  made  up  their  minds  to 
conquer  or  die,  then  and  there.  I  was  not  surprised, 
when  I  afterward  learned  that  the  two  opposing  regi- 
ments had  met  before,  and  had  paid  a  heavy  debt  of 
vengeance  at  Gettysburg. 

With  many  misgivings,  we  bent  our  steps  to  where 
the  carcass  of  a  large  horse  was  lying,  and,  looking 
down,  recognized  the  form  crushed  beneath  it.  The 
men  carefully  removed  the  heavy  weight,  and  we  found, 
to  our  joyful  surprise,  that  the  colonel  was  still  living. 
He  was  lying  on  his  side,  his  bridle-arm  broken  by  a 
Minie  ball,  and  several  of  his  ribs  fractured ;  the  latter 
injury,  however,  was  caused  by  his  horse  falling  on  him, 
a  fact  which  happily  preserved  him  from  the  bayonet- 
thrusts  of  the  enemy. 

"  I  thought  you  would  never  come,"  he  said,  very 
feebly,  opening  his  eyes  at  the  same  time  and  looking  in 
my  face.  "  t  did  not  speak  before,  not  being  sure  of 


IN  THE   FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTYSBUBG.         363 

who  was  assisting  me.  Sabre-cuts  are  not  very  agree- 
able, and  if  it  had  been  a  party  of  rebels  I  should  have 
played  I  was  dead,  and  let  them  pick  my  pockets  of 
every  thing.  Your  voice  was  a  great  relief  when  I 
heard  it.  I  recognized  it  at  once." 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  walk  a  little  ?  "  I  asked  him. 

We  raised  him,  but  he  was  too  weak.  So,  having 
placed  him  on  the  litter,  we  prepared  to  return. 

"  My  poor  Stonewall ! "  he  said,  looking  at  his  horse. 
"  That  cannon-ball  killed  him  instantly.  I  was  struck 
a  few  moments  before,  but  I  felt  almost  sure  of  taking 
him  out  of  this  alive.  What  a  place  for  a  man  to  die 
in  ! "  He  glanced  about  him  with  a  visible  shudder,  at 
which  I  did  not  wonder.  The  scene  before  me  ex- 
ceeded in  horror  any  thing  of  the  kind  that  I  had  ever 
witnessed. 

"  How  long  will  my  arm  be  in  a  sling  ?  "  he  asked, 
as  we  commenced  our  retreat.  I  was  walking  beside 
his  litter,  steadying  it  where  the  ground  was  rough,  and 
I  turned  to  look  at  him,  in  admiration  of  his  coolness. 

"  Better  ask,  how  long  before  your  side  will  be  all 
right.  I  think  worse  of  that  than  of  your  arm." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  regular  Job's  comforter,  doctor ; 
come,  give  me  an  opinion." 

"  Well,  six  weeks,  if  the  bone  is  not  splintered." 

He  gave  a  long  whistle. 

"  Why,  the  army  may  be  in  Richmond  by  that 
time  ! " 

"  I  sincerely  hope  that  it  will  be ;  then  you  can  go 


364:  DE.  WELMER'S  LOVE. 

home  on  a  long  furlough,  and  play  hero  to  your  heart's 
content." 

We  had  reached  the  middle  of  the  field,  and  he  was 
saying  something  about  his  mother,  when  a  loud  report 
struck  on  our  ears.  Something  whizzed  over  our  heads 
and  sank  into  the  ground  before  us.  The  men  recoiled, 
I  heard  an  explosion,  the  ground  trembled  under  our 
feet,  things  flew  past  my  eyes,  I  felt  a  shock,  and  a 
burning  sensation  in  my  breast ;  I  was  falling,  it  seemed 
to  me,  in  space,  the  ground  receding  as  I  neared  it. 

When  I  recovered  consciousness  I  was  lying  down, 
and  some  one  was  bending  over  me.  I  opened  my  eyes, 
and  saw  Doctor  Berry. 

"  Wilmer,"  he  was  saying,. "  are  you  conscious  ?  do 
yoxi  understand  me  ?  " 

The  words  had  a  confused  sound.  I  felt  myself  try- 
ing to  catch  their  meaning.  He  began  again,  this  time 
with  more  effect. 

"Wilmer,  listen!  try  to  keep  your  mind  on  what  I 
am  saying ;  it  will  become  clear  to  you  after  a  while." 

"  Yes,"  I  moaned ;  "  what  is  it  ?•" 

"  Your  foot  is  hurt  badly.  These  fellows  here  want 
to  take  it  off.  They  are  strangers  to  me,  surgeons  from 
Boston.  You  must  rally  your  strength  and  refuse  to 
allow  it.  I  have  seen  you  save  many  a  foot  as  much  in- 
jured as  yours  is  now,  but  they  doubt  the  fact.  I  must 
go  in  search  of  the  proper  splints,  and  I  am  afraid  to 
trust  you  alone  with  them.  Can  you  comprehend  what 
I  say  ?  Can  you  collect  your  thoughts  ?  " 


IN   THE    FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTTSBUEG.         365 

"  Something  presses  on  my  chest,"  I  said ;  "  what  is 
it?" 

"  You  are  hurt  there,  but  not  materially.  Only  find 
strength  to  look  at  these  men,  and  words  to  speak  to 
them.  Moments  are  precious  now ;  think  what  it  would 
be  to  go  through  life  lame  !  " 

"  "Would  it  matter  much  ?  "  I  said,  only  half  conscious 
of  what,  he  was  saying. 

He  sighed  heavily. 

"  Go  and  get  the  splints,"  I  managed  to  say.  "  I 
will  try  and  remember  what  you  told  me."  • 

I  heard  him  leave  me,  after  having  placed  my  foot 
in  a  position  that  satisfied  him,  and  then  a  numbness 
seemed  to  spread  itself  over  me.  I  felt  immovable, 
inanimate,  without  the  power  of  exerting  thought  or 
action  in  the  least  degree.  From  this  state  of  half  sleep- 
ing, half  waking,  I  was  roused  by  a  sensation  of  acute 
agony,  which  thrilled  through  all  my  nerves  and  had  the 
effect  of  restoring  me  to  my  full  senses.  I  raised  myself 
with  much  difficulty,  and  discovered  the  cause  of  my 
intense  suffering.  Two  gentlemen,  whose  caps  denoted 
that  they  belonged  to  some  medical  staff,  were  probing 
my  foot,  to  their  own  great  satisfaction  and  my  extreme 
horror.  Instantly,  all  Doctor  Berry's  injunctions  re- 
curred to  me,  and  I  realized  their  importance.  To  lose 
my  foot,  and  be  lame  for  life,  or  else  to  avail  myself  of  an 
artificial  one,  seemed  about  to  become  a  problem  for  me 
to  solve.  My  obliging  friends,  having  completed  their 
examination,  were  spreading  their  instruments  over  the 


366  DE.  WILHER'S  LOVE. 

bed,  and  I  lay  quiet,  watching  them  and  wondering 
what  would  be  their  next  move. 

The  idea  of  any  person  undertaking  to  relieve  me  of 
my  foot,  without  first  consulting  me  and  obtaining  my 
consent,  seemed  utterly  preposterous ;  and,  besides,  I 
had  not  as  yet  made  up  my  mind  that  such  a  proceed- 
ing was  really  necessary.  I  thought  that,  at  least,  I 
should  like  to  look  at  it  myself  beforehand  and  give  the 
subject  proper  consideration.  Lameness  might  be  quite 
admirable  and  hero-like  in  a  soldier,  but  being  merely  an 
army  surgeon,  I  did  not  think  it  would  add  much  either 
to  my  fame  or  usefulness.  I  lay,  therefore,  in  speechless 
amazement,  watching  with  half-closed  eyes  the  motions 
of  the  two  medical  gentlemen,  and  listening  to  their 
low-toned  conversation. 

I  verified  the  old  adage,  "  Listeners  never  hear  any 
good  of  themselves."  Still  I  felt  that  I  had  a  right  to 
be  present  at  my  own  trial,  and  hear  the  verdict.  I 
will  do  them  the  justice  of  saying  that  they  sincerely 
believed  in  the  wisdom  of  their  own  conclusion,  and 
wished  to  do  the  best  they  knew  how  for  me.  Had  I 
been  their  oldest  friend,  instead  of  a  mere  stranger, 
their  decision  would  have  been  the  same. 

"  Shall  I  apply  the  chloroform  as  he  is,  or  shall  we 
first  explain  the  necessity  of  the  case  to  him  ?  "  asked 
one  of  the  other. 

"  If  he  were  a  private  soldier,"  was  the  reply,  "  we 
should,  of  course,  proceed  to  amputate  the  limb  without 
consulting  him.  It  appears  that  he  is  a  surgeon  him- 


IN   THE   FIELD-HOSPITAL   AT   GETTYSBURG.         367 

self,  and,  therefore,  it  will  be  only  proper  t*>  tell  him 
what  we  are  about  to  do." 

"  I  am  quite  aware  of  your  intentions,"  I  said,  look- 
ing at  them  in  turn.  "  Thank  you  for  your  good  wishes, 
but  I  shall  allow  Doctor  Berry,  who  is  my  friend,  to 
take  charge  of  the  affair." 

"  You  do  not  know  what  you  are  saying,"  the  elder 
of  the  two  answered,  turning  to  me.  He  was  a  much 
older  man  than  I,  a  fact  that  I  had  noticed  before  ad- 
dressing him.  "  Permit  me  to  say,"  he  continued,  "  that 
I  rank  you  in  age,  and  probably  in  experience,  and  that 
any  man  who  tells  you  that  he  can  save  your  foot  is 
not  your  friend." 

"  I  would  still  prefer  to  hear  my  friend's  opinion," 
I  said. 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  but  you  forget  the  time  of 
year  it  is.  If  it  were  winter,  we  might  risk  the  conse- 
quences ;  but,  considering  that  this  is  July,  and  the 
weather  extremely  hot,  such  a  delay  will  be  highly 
dangerous.  Mortification  may  set  in  before  morning, 
and  then  nothing  can  be  done.  The  only  safety  lies  in 
immediate  amputation." 

"  The  patient  looks  feyerish  already,"  remarked  the 
younger  of  the  two. 

"  No  wonder,"  I  replied  ;  "  your  conversation  does 
not  tend  to  soothe  my  nerves." 

"Still,  we  could  not  commence  the  operation. with- 
out your  consent,"  the  elder  one  said,  apologetically. 

"  Very  well,"  I  replied  ;  "  then  it  is  all  settled.     I 


368  '  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

shall  not  submit  to  any  thing  of  the  kind  at  present ; 
and,  if  it  should  become  necessary,  my  assistant  here, 
Doctor  Berry,  will  be  quite  competent  to  undertake  it." 

"  He  is  rather  young  for  the  responsibility,  I  think," 
the  old  gentleman  said. 

"  Excuse  me  for  differing  with  you,  but  Doctor  Berry 
has  assisted  me  in  the  care  of  the  regiment  for  nearly 
two  years,  and  I  have  never  heard  the  least  charge 
made  against  him  as  regards  incapacity  for  the  position 
he  holds." 

I  was  growing  tired  of  the  whole  affair,  and  wishing 
heartily  that  the  gentlemen  would  leave  me  to  suffer  in 
silence,  when  Doctor  Bei'ry  himself  made  his  appearance 
at  the  opening  of  the  tent,  and  my  tormentors  passed 
on,  hoping  that  I  would  not  regret  my  obstinacy. 

"  I  believe  they  have  driven  you  into  a  fever,"  my 
friend  said,  coming  to  me  with  the  splints  that  he 
needed  in  his  hand,  and  looking  anxiously  into  my  face. 

"  No,  I  am  quite  cool  and  ready  for  you." 

"Very  well,  then,"  he  answered  gayly.  "If  I  hurt 
you  much,  just  cry  out ;  it  will  be  a  great  relief  to  you." 

While  he  made  all  the  arrangements,  and  tenderly 
dressed  my  foot,  causing  me  the  least  pain  possible,  I 
took  a  view  of  my  position,  and  found  myself  wonder- 
ing how  long  I  should  remain  in  it.  I  was  lying  on  a 
small  mattrees,  placed  on  the  ground  in  one  of  the  hos- 
pital-tents, and  on  each  side  of  me  other  wounded  men 
were  extended  in  the  same  manner.  No  better  accom- 
modation was  possible,  so  we  talked  as  merrily  as  we 


IN  THE    FIELTHHOSPrrAL   AT   GETTYSBURG.         369 

could  under  the  circumstances,  and  made  the  most  of 
our  curious  quarters.  Colonel  Lecount  was  in  an  ad- 
joining tent,  doing  nicely ;  he  had  escaped  all  injury 
from  the  bursting  shell ;  and  so,  being  relieved  from  all 
anxiety,  and  having  sent  a  few  lines  to  my  sister,  tell- 
ing her  of  my  mishap,  I  sank  into  an  uneasy  sleep,  which 
lasted  during  the  night. 

In  the  morning,  while  attending  to  me,  Doctor  Berry 
made  me  laugh  heartily  at  his  description  of  the  gentle- 
men who  had  given  me  so  much  trouble  the  day  before. 

"  They  are  both  from  Boston,"  he  said.  u  I  found 
out  all  about  them  last  night.  Williams  swears  that,  if 
they  ever  come  near  here  again,  he  will  give  the  men 
leave  to  fire  on  them.  He  says  that,  if  they  had  been 
allowed  their  way,  there  wouldn't  have  been  a  whole 
man  left  in  the  division  hospital.  One  of  them  is  a  regu- 
lar Doctor  Sawbones,  one  of  your  real  old  fogies ;  thinks 
that  the  knife  is  the  only  instrument  worth  having  in 
surgery.  They  say  he  is  famous  at  cutting  off  limbs — 
does  it  with  so  much  neatness  and  dispatch.  He  has 
quite  a  reputation  at  home,  and  came  up  here,  as  a 
great  favor,  to  offer  his  valuable  assistance.  He  be- 
came quite  angry  in  the  next  tent ;  the  surgeon  there 
fired  up  and  told  him  '  that  he  did  not  want  his  inter- 
ference, and  that  we  were  all  quite  aware  of  the  fac^ 
that  it  is  much  easier  for  us  to  take  a  limb  off  than  to 
save  it  with  care  and  attention.'  " 

"  It  must  have  been  Allen  who  told  him  that — it  is 
so  like  him.     What  became  of  them  ?  " 
16* 


370  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

"  Oh,. they  left  at  last  in  disgust.  I  heard  that  the 
young  colonel,  the  one  you  went  after,  drew  his  sword  on 
them.  Nothing  would  do  them  but  to  take  off  his  arm." 

"That  is  just  what  Victor  would  do,"  I  said,  laugh- 
ing at  the  ludicrousness  of  the  scene,  as  I  imagined  it. 

"It  is  sufficient  to  stop  all  enlistments,"  went  on 
Doctor  Berry.  "  A  man  may  be  willing  to  fight,  and 
take  the  chances,  but  if  he  thinks  that,  the  moment  he  is 
wounded,  he  is  at  the  mercy  of  any  ignoramus  that  may 
come  along,  with  a  saw  in  one  hand  and  a  tourniquet  in 
the  other,  he  is  not  likely  to  risk  them.  A  wound  re- 
ceived on  the  field,  coming  as  it  does  at  a  moment  of 
excitement,  is  easily  borne  ;  but  to  be  chopped  up  lei- 
surely in  a  hospital  is  another  consideration,  especially 
when  a  man  feels  that  with  a  little  extra  trouble  on  the 
part  of  the  surgeon  the  necessity  might  be  obviated." 

"  It  is  a  pity,"  I  said,  "  that  we  are  not  better  sup- 
plied with  conscientious  surgeons.  Some  of  them  have 
undoubtedly  mistaken  their  vocation." 

"  Yes,  particularly  that  old  gentleman  that  was  here 
yesterday.  He  should  have  been  bred  a  butcher," 
said  Doctor  Berry,  as  he  left  me  on  his  way  to  another 
patient. 

For  many  weeks  I  remained  in  the  field-hospital  at 
Gettysburg.  It  was  a  dreary  time  to  me,  monotonous, 
and  void  of  interest.  The  army  had  gone  forward,  and 
with  it  all  the  regimental  surgeons  that  could  be  spared ; 
among  the  rest,  Doctor  Berry.  Many  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  had  been  removed  to  Washington,  Philadel- 


IN  THE  FIELD-HOSPITAL  AT  GETTYSBURG.         371 

pliia,  and  New  York.  Those  that  remained  were  suf- 
fering from  wounds  received  below,  or  in  the  hip-joint, 
and  were  not  yet  equal  to  the  fatigue  that  a  removal 
would  cause.  We  were  quite  shut  in  from  the  outside 
world ;  the  only  news  that  reached  us  came  through 
the  daily  and  weekly,  papers  sent  to  the  patients  by 
their  friends,  and  the  reports  which  they  contained  rela- 
tive to  the  army  were  not  very  satisfactory  nor  cor- 
rect. Home  letters  were  the  greatest  luxuries  that 
could  be  received,  and  we  longed  for  them  as  a  child 
would  long  for  a  new  toy,  when  they  were  detained  by 
the  irregularity  of  the  mails. 

To  me,  so  accustomed  to  an  active  life  in  the  fresh, 
open  air,  the  confinement  was  irksome  in  the  ex- 
treme. Minutes  seemed  like  hours,  hours  like  days. 
Then,  too,  my  recovery  progressed  but  slowly.  My 
foot  was  very  painful  and  tedious,  and  my  chest  troubled 
me  greatly,  a  result  that  Doctor  Berry  had  anticipated 
from  the  first.  Owing  to  the  low  position  of  our  beds, 
and  the  amount  of  rain  that  had  fallen,  making  the 
ground  damp  and  the  air  moist,  a  fever,  accompanied 
with  cMils,  was  beginning  to  spread  among  the  men  with 
fatal  effect. 

Several  near  me,  who  had  lost  their  limbs,  and 
seemed  to  be  recovering  rapidly,  were  carried  away  bjt 
it,  and  I  noticed  that,  in  nearly  every  case  where  it 
supervened  on  amputation,  it  resulted  in  death.  One 
example,  in  particular,  made  a  deep  impression  on  me. 
A  young  man,  a  fine,  honest-looking  soldier,  had  lost 


372  DB.  WILMEK'S.  LOVE. 

his  right  leg  below  the  knee,  and  had  submitted  cheer- 
fully to  the  operation,  •which  proved  successful.  He 
bore  his  pain  without  a  murmur,  and  I  therefore  was 
surprised  one  day,  on  waking  from  a  light  sleep,  to  see 
him  crying  silently,  his  face  turned  to  me.  and  resting 
on  his  arm.  I  spoke  to  him,  and  he  told  me  what  caused 
his  tears.  A  young  lady,  who  was  spending  some  weeks 
at  Gettysburg,  visiting  the  hospitals  and  attending  on  "** 
the  wounded  during  the  day,  had  just  left  his  side.  She 
had  been  sitting  near  him  for  an  hour,  fanning  him, 
tempting  his  appetite  with  little  luxuries,  and  brushing 
the  flies  from  his  aching  wound.  Her  kindness,  and  the 
sight  of  a  noble,  good  woman,  thus  ministering  to  him, 
had  brought  tears  of  joy  to  his  eyes — this  powerful- 
looking  soldier,  who  had  gazed  on  the  miseries  of  battle- 
fields for  two  years,  unsoftened,  and  had  met  the  sur- 
geon's knife  with  composure. 

After  that  I  watched  him,  and  became  interested  in 
him.  He  had  lost  his  knapsack  on  the  field,  and  the 
only  thing  that  he  possessed  was  a  little  picture  of  one 
of  his  cousins,  which  he  had  put  for  safety  in  his  pocket 
before  going  into  the  fight.  The  young  lady  wh»visited 
him  supplied  him  with  paper  and  a  pencil,  and  several 
times  I  saw  him  writing  to  this  cousin,  who  lived  in  a 
distant  city.  As  his  pain  ceased,  his  spirits  rose; 
he  even  joked  on  his  own  misfortune,  and  I  often  fell 
asleep  while  listening  to  him  whistling  popular  airs, 
which  he  did  most  beautifully. 

He  was   looking  forward  with  hope  to   his  return 


IN   THE   FIELD-HOSPITAL  AT   GETTYSBCKG.         373 

home,  when  the  fever  attacked  him.  lie  fought  it 
bravely,  but — alas  ! — it  conquered  him.  Not  many 
hours  before  his  end,  came  letters  from  his  family,  bright 
and  joyful  in  their  tone,  calculated  to  sustain  his  droop- 
ing spirits.  The  fever  was  on  him  at  the  time  when  his 
nurse  read  them  to  him — the  kind  words  fell  unheeded 
on  his  ears.  He  was  "  going  home  !  " 

"  Tell  them  all  that  I  died  happy,"  he  whispered  to 
the  chaplain,  who  bent  over  him  in  his  dying  moments. 
He  did  not  speak  again.  A  few  hours  after,  he  was 
buried  in  a  little  grove,  not  far  from  the  town,  and,  his 
empty  bed  having  been  removed,  all  traces  of  him  dis- 
appeared. 

My  sister  had  come  to  me  immediately  after  hearing 
of  my  wound,  and  had  remained  with  me  for  a  week. 
Then  my  mother  was  attacked  with  a  sudden  and 
serious  illness,  and  my  sister  had  returned  home  to  care 
for  her.  However,  I  did  not  lacfk  attention.  Nothing 
could  exceed  the  kindness  with  w^ich  we  were  treated 
by  the  ladies  attached  to  the  corps  of  nurses,  and  others, 
who  came  to  Gettysburg  in  order  to  be  near  their 
woun«Jd  relatives. 

When  at  last  I  was  removed  with  many  of  my  com- 
rades, to  Washington,  I  foresaw  but  a  short  stay  there, 
having  determined,  once  my  foot  would  permit  me,  to 
0ake  my  way  home,  if  need  be,  on  two  crutches.  I  was 
little  prepared  for  what  then  happened.  The  morning 
after  my  arrival  in  the  city  I  awoke  in  a  violent  fever, 
and  then  I  remembered,  with  dismay,  the  slight  touches 


374  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

of  it  that  I  had  felt  while  lying  in  the  field-hospital  at 
Gettysburg. 

It  was  something  that  I  had  not  made  any  prepara- 
tion for  meeting.  I  had  trusted  to  my  constitution, 
which  was  naturally  good,  to  carry  me  safely  over  the 
effects  of  the  wounds  that  I  had  received,  and  the  possi- 
bility of  contracting  the  fever  in  its  worst  form  never 
occurred  to  me.  With  my  burning  head  resting  on  my 
arm,  I  took  a  quiet  survey  of  the  room  in  which  I  had 
been  placed,  at  dark,  the  night  before.  It  was  a  long, 
narrow  apartment — a  regular  hospital  scene.  The  rows 
of  neat  little  beds,  standing  near  the  walls,  seemed  to  be 
all  occupied.  In  the  space  between  them  nurses  were 
coming  and  going  with  their  noiseless  tread,  and  doctors 
were  bending  attentively  over  their  suffering  charges.  I 
looked  through  the  open  windows  at  the  blue  sky,  and 
thought  to  myself — "  If  the  fever  does,  attack  me,  this 
will  be  a  better  place  to  fight  it  than  in  the  field-hospi-^ 
tal  that  I  have  just  quitted." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

HOW  THE   LIXKS   WEBE   JOINED. 

AFTER  arriving  at  that  conclusion,  I  sank  back  on 
my  pillow;,  and  tried  to  turn  my  thoughts  on  other  sub- 
jects. To  ray  great  horror,  I  found  it  impossible  to  fol- 
low out  a  connected  train  of  ideas.  A  vague  conscious- 
ness, that  I  feared  to  acknowledge  to  myself,  became  a 
sure  conviction.  I  felt  that  my  mind  was  commencing 
to  wander,  and  in  the  effort  that  I  made  to  overcome  the 
weakness,  and  control  my  reasoning  powers,  I  added  to 
my  own  sufferings.  For  several  days,  I  was  aware  of 
what  took  place  around  me,  in  spite  of  the  high  fever 
raging  in  my  brain.  I  knew  the  doctor,  and  the  nurse 
that  attended  me,  and  realized  my  own  danger.  After 
that  I  became  delirious,  and  lay.  battling  for  life  with 
the  remnant  of  my  bodily  strength,  which  decreased 
hourly.  During  that  fearful  time  I  changed  into  a  mere 
shadow  of  my  former  self.  Dead  to  the  present,  the  fu- 
ture a  great  void  before  me,  nothing  remained  for  me 
but  the  past,  and  that  took  entire  possession  of  me.  The 
scenes  connected  with  it  were  forever  passing  before  my 


376  DK.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

eyes ;  the  figures  changing,  and  forming  into  new  pic- 
tures, like  the  glasses  in  a  kaleidoscope.  In  my  disor- 
dered imagination  I  lived  my  life  over  again,  and  in  my 
vivid  fancy  felt  anew  its  former  joys  and  sorrows. 

With  the  touch  of  a  soft  hand  still  lingering  on  mine, 
with  the  low  tones  of  a  loved  voice  still  sounding  in  my 
ears,  I  passed  art  length  from  the  realms  of  sweet  memo- 
ries and  wild  dreams  to  the  world  of  reality  about  me. 
I  opened  my  eyes,  and  gazed  around  with  a  vague  idea 
that  I  was  sensible,  and  then  closed  them  suddenly,  with 
a  sensation  of  horror  spreading  itself  over  me.  Too 
weak  to  tremble,  I  lay  unable  to  utter  a  cry,  seeing 
through  shut  lids  the  vision  that  had  paralyzed  me.  I 
tried  to  believe  that  my  eyes  had  deceived  me,  and,  sum- 
moning all  my  feeble  resolution,  I  looked  again.  The 
thing  was  indeed  there,  a  fearful  reality,  and  not  the 
creation  of  a  disordered  brain.  There  it  stood,  a  dark 
screen  surrounding  three  sides  of  my  narrow  couch,  and 
shutting  me  off  from  the  other  occupants  of  the  room, 
lest  they  should  witness  my  dying  struggles.  "  Then  I 
am  to  die,"  I  thought,  "  and  this  is  probably  my  inter- 
val of  consciousness  before  the  end." 

I  lay  gazing  x>n  the  hospital-sign  of  death  expected, 
and  listened  attentively  for  the  rustle  of  a  dress  or  the 
sound  of  a  voice.  The  silence  was  terrible,  worse  than 
the  roar  and  confusion  of  battle.  It  crushed  me  with, 
its  chilling  weight.  I  wondered  what  caused  it,  I  puz- 
zled my  mind  for  a  reason.  By  degrees,  I  was  impressed 
by  the  curious  light  in  which  the  unpleasant  abject  of 


HOW  THE  LIKKS  WEEE  JOINED.  377 

my  thoughts  was  presented  to  me,  and,  turning  my  eyes 
upward,  I  suddenly  found  an  explanation  for  all  that  had 
troubled  me.  The  shadow  of  a  hand,  holding  a  book, 
rested  on  the  ceiling  over  my  head,  in  immense  propor- 
tions, and  moved,  now  and  then,  as  the  light  which 
threw  it  flickered  in  the  wind.  I  tried  to  look  beyond, 
hoping  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  sky  and  the  stars, 
through  the  open  window,  by  which  the  sweet  night  air 
entered  the  room,  but  in  vain.  The  screen  shut  out  from 
me  all  but  the  strip  of  white  ceiling  which  the  shadow, 
darkened.  Feebly  and  very  slowly  my  weakened  brain 
and  dulled  perceptive  faculties  took  in  and  realized  the 
position  of  affairs,  and  the  probable  scene  beyond  the 
limits  of  my  view. 

It  was  night,  and  the  patients  slept;  quiet  and  rest 
were  necessary  to  their  recovery,  those  powerful  medi- 
cines that  Nature  provides — the  quiet  of  night,  the  rest 
of  sleep.  The  stillness  was  accounted  for.  Here  and 
there,  no  doubt,  the  watchers  were  at  their  posts,  but 
why  did  one  remain  so  close  to  me,  sharpening  the  senses 
to  wakefulness-  by  reading  ?  The  answer  to  my  ques- 
tion, supplied  by  my  own  heart,  thrilled  through  my 
nerves.  I  was  dying,  and  I  had  been  delirious  when  last 
visited  by  a  physician.  It  was  possible  that  I  might  be 
given  a  fehort  interval  of  consciousness,  during  which  I 
might  take  leave  of  earthly  things,  and  prepare  for  the 
unseen  eternity. 

Out  of  kindness,  some  one  was  watching  near  me, 
attentive  to  catch  the  least  sound  or  movement  from 


378  DR.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

within  the  screen.  "Alas!"  I  thought,  "had  that 
been  only  my  mother,  or  my  sister,  how  anxiously 
would  she  have  hung  over  my  pillow,  and,  watching 
every  feature,  known  by  inspiration  the  instant  when 
sensibility  returned  ! "  In  my  desire  to  send  a  last  mes- 
sage to  the  dear  ones  so  far  away,  I  attempted  to  call ; 
but,  although  I  exerted  all  my  strength,  no  sound  issued 
from  my  lips.  Within  reach  of  human  aid,  I  was 
powerless  to  attain  it.  A  dreadful  sense  of  increasing 
•weakness  overpowered  me ;  I  felt  an  irresistible  desire 
to  scream,  and  yet  was  perfectly  aware  of  my  inability 
to  make  myself  heard.  The  fear  of  death  was  stronger 
than  the  hope  of  life  ;  and  still  I  had  a  conviction  that 
if  the  screen  were  removed,  the  thought  of  speedy  dis- 
solution would  depart  at  the  same  time,  and  hope 
resume  its  power.  Even  while  these  strangely-mingled 
fancies  chased  each  other  through  my  brain,  I  was 
studying  the  shadow  over  my  head,  and  wondering  who 
the  owner  of  the  real  hand  might  be.  It  certainly  be- 
longed to  a  woman ;  there  was  a  delicacy  in  the  out- 
lines, and  a  peculiar  -gracefulness  about  the  cuff  rising 
from  the  wrist,  that  remained  visible  in  spite  of  the 
increased  size.  As  I  looked,  the  hand  assumed  still 
larger  proportions,  and  seemed  to  press  closer  to  me, 
and  at  length  rest  upon  me. 

I  sank  into  a  doze.  How  long  it  continued  I  never 
knew.  The  sound  of  voices,  conversing  in  hushed  tones 
beside  me,  is  the  first  sensation  of  which  I  have  any 
recollection. 


HOW   THE   LINKS   WERE   JOINED.  379 

"Have  you  no  hope  whatever?"  a  female  voice 
asked,  and  I  wondered  at  the  earnest  agitation  which 
its  owner  evinced. 

"Xone  whatever,"  was  the  answer,  in  a  man's 
quiet,  sententious  style. 

"And  yet  he  has  lingered,  for  hours.  Yesterday 
morning  you  gave  him  but  six  more  to  live.  See  how 
cool  he  looks  !  I  thought  it  was  a  good  sign.  He  sleeps 
quietly  too,  and  has,  ever  since  the  gas  was  lit.  May  it 
not  be  the  crisis  of  the  fever?" 

I  could  imagine  the  doctor  shaking  his  head  gravely, 
as  he  replied — 

"  I  should  be  glad  indeed  to  think  so ;  but  this,  I  fear, 
is  the  weakness  that  precedes  death.  I  have  seen  it  in* 
so  many  cases,  and  we  hospital  doctors  are  not  so  easily 
deceived  in  the  phases  of  a  disease  as  those  who  are  less 
expei'ienced.  Certainly  if  care  could  save,  Doctor  Wilmer 
ought  to  live,  for  you  have  done  all  in  the  power  of  hu- 
man skill  for  him.  You  have  been  a  most  devoted  nurse, 
and  the  country  ought  to  feel  deeply  grateful  to  you, 
and  other  ladies,  equally  self-sacrificing  and  patriotic." 

"And  can  I  do  no  more?"  came  the  whispered 
entreaty. 

"If  he  wakens  again  you  may  give  him  some  nour- 
ishing food,  a  little  at  a  time.  That  is  all  that  I  can 
say  to  encourage  you.  To  hold  out  hopes  that  appear- 
ances do  not  justify  is  something  that  I  cannot  bring 
myself  to  do.  Many  physicians  think  it  allowable,  I 
disagree  with  them  entirely." 


380  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOTE. 

Having  given  his  opinion,  the  doctor  went  away 
with  soft  steps  to  look  at  the  other  patients,  and  for  a 
moment  there  was  complete  silence.  Then  a  smothered 
sob  broke  the  heavy  stillness,  and  a  sad  voice  mur- 
mured, "  If  he  ever  wakens  again ! "  I  felt  tears  falling 
on  my  hand,  and,  opening  my  eyes  in  surprise,  met 
those  of  Miss  Pauline  Lecount  fixed  on  my  face.  For 
an  instant  she  gazed  at  me  like  one  in  a  dream ;  then, 
instinctively  realizing  that  I  was  conscious,  she  sank  on 
her  knees,  and,  pressing  my  hand  convulsively  in  her 
own,  said,  in  a  choking  voice  : 

"You  shall  not  die  without  forgiving  me! — Stay" 
— she  exclaimed,  as  I  made  a  faint  effort  to  speak. 
"  Listen  to  me.  Do  not  answer  me  till  you  have  heard 
all;  let  me  justify  her  who  cannot  plead  for  herself. 
She  was  innocent — I  alone  caused  all  this  misery.  I 
alone  injured  you,  and  destroyed  your  whole  life.  If 
only  you  could  realize  the  misery  that  I  have  endured 
these  many  years !  You  have  suffered  too,  but  you  had 
wronged  no  one ;  yours  was  not  the  wretchedness  that 
springs  from  a  guilty  conscience,  struck  with  remorse, 
yet  lacking  the  courage  to  confess  its  sin.  But,  alas  !  I 
am  only  trying  to  excuse  myself,  to  palliate  my  own 
crime.  When  you  know  what  I  did  in  a  moment  of 
temptation ;  when  you  realize  how  I  wronged  you ; 
then  think  of  where  we  are  at  this  moment,  and  as  you 
are  a  Christian,  and  hope  for  mercy,  try  to  forgive  me." 

She  ceased  for  a  moment,  to  recover  her  composure ; 
and  then,  as  if  doubting  her  own  strength  to  fulfil  her 


HOW   THE   I<INKS   WERE   JOINED.  381 

resolution,  she  poured  forth  her  story  in  a  voice  ren- 
dered low  and  distinct,  with  a  great  effort.  I  listened 
to  her  in  a  state  of  amazement,  half  questioning  the  evi- 
dence of  my  senses,  trying  to  grasp  the  meaning  of  her 
words,  and  connecting  feebly  in  my  mind  the  chain  for 
which  she  was  supplying  the  links. 

"  The  first  evening  that  I  met  you,"  she  said,  "  I 
read  your  secret,  and  I  will  confess  that  I  wondered  at 
it.  Your  love  for  Miss  Ferris  I  never  could  understand. 
She  was  such  a  child  in  manner  and  knowledge,  and  so 
greatly  your  inferior.  Your  motives  for  concealing 
your  feelings  excited  my  curiosity  for  a  long  time,  but 
when  I  afterward  learned  them,  I  could  appreciate  the 
power  which  they  exerted  over  you.  For  months  I 
watched  Belle,  and  tried  to  sound  her  affection  for  you. 
But  she  baffled  me ;  she  either  loved  you  passionately, 
and  concealed  her  true  feelings  under  a  mask  of  indiffer- 
ence, or  else  she  admired  you  as  a  friend,  and  did  not 
care  who  knew  it.  I  never  could  surprise  her  confi- 
dence in  regard  to  you,  and  for  that  reason  I  concluded 
that  something  more  than  friendship  governed  her 
heart.  Of  course  the  secret  of  her  position,  which  you 
were  all  guarding  so  carefully,  would  have  given  me 
the  key  to  the  whole  affair.  It  would  have  explained 
the  curious  confidence  existing  between  you  two,  and 
her  tacit  compliance  with  every  thing  you  proposed, 
the  very  thing  that  excited  my  greatest  uneasiness. 
However,  I  was  a  most  unscrupulous  antagonist,  even 
at  that  time.  Your  silence  I  attributed  to  diffidence, 


382  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

and  I  took  advantage  of  that,  by  representing  it  to  her 
as  indifference.  Claude  loved  her ;  he  was  my  favorite 
brother,  and  I  would  have  attempted  any  thing  for  his 
sake.  I  inferred  that  she  was  rich  from  many  circum- 
stances, and  I  realized  with  bitterness  in  my  heart  that 
we  were  poor.  What  might  not  riches  do  for  Claude  ? 
and,  besides,  he  was  disinterested  in  his  love  for  Belle. 
Want  of  means  was  his  only  drawback ;  otherwise,  they 
seemed  well  suited  to  each  other.  When  you  returned 
to  Buffalo  the  first  time,  you  left  the  field  entirely  open 
to  me.  I  saw  that,  unconsciously,,  you  had  hurt  Belle 
deeply;  you  had  chilled  her  by  your  coldness,  and 
thrown  her  heart  from  you.  What  you  lost,  I  gained. 
She  became  quieter,  less  impulsive,  more  womanly,  and 
shrank  from  mentioning  your  name.  She  felt  that  she 
had  been  too  quick  to  give  her  affections  where  they 
were  not  sought  for,  and  determined  to  drive  away  and 
overcome  all  thoughts  of  you.  Without  having  the 
least  clew  to  your  motives,  I  saw  the  advantages  to  be 
derived  from  your  conduct,  and  I  hastened  to  make  the 
most  of  them.  I  awakened  her  pride  by  hinting  at  your 
cool  indifference,  and  then  left  the  rest  to  Claude. 

"  His  attentions  flattered  her  vanity  and  soothed  her 
wounded  feelings.  She  was  no  coquette,  and  therefore 
tried  honestly  to  return  his  love.  Besides,  Mr.  Masters 
approved  of  the  affair,  and  she  liked  to  please  him  in 
every  thing.  Your  continued  absence  and  silence  car- 
ried out  what  I  had  insinuated  about  you ;  and  when 
we  went  to  New  York,  every  thing  was  progressing  to 


IIOW   THE   LINKS   WEEE  JOINED.  383 

my  perfect  satisfaction.  All  fears  on  your  account 
were  at  rest  in  my  heart.  Belle  seldom  spoke  of  you, 
and  even  when  she  heard  that  you  were  coming  to  her 
party,  I  looked  in  vain  for  any  trace  of  emotion  in  her 
appearance.  Her  dress  for  the  evening  seemed  to  mo- 
nopolize all  her  attention. 

"  The  night  came ;  you  can  judge  of  my  surprise, 
when,  on  the  entrance  of  Mrs.  Parker,  I  saw  her  leave 
Claude's  side  and  fly  to  you  for  protection.  I  felt  that, 
once  in  your  presence,  all  your  power  over  her  re- 
turned ;  and  the  fabric  I  had  taken  such  pains  to  build 
seemed  about  to  dissolve  in  my  very  grasp.  Mr.  Mas- 
ters' explanation  also  was  calculated  to  recall  memories 
too  strong  for  me  to  battle  with ;  and  I  realized  that  a 
meeting  between  you  two  without  witnesses  was  all 
that  was  necessary  to  undo  my  whole  work.  A  word 
from  you  would  have  revealed  to  her  the  passion  lying 
dormant  in  her  own  heart,  and  the  least  sign  of  emotion 
on  her  side  would  have  swept  away  your  barrier  of 
pride,  and  shown  her  the  depth  of  your  love. 

"To  prevent  such  an  interview,  I  exerted  every 
stratagem  of  which  I  was  capable,  and  you  know  how 
well  I  succeeded.  I  had  to  enlist  Claude  on  my  bide, 
and  for  that  reason  I  imparted  to  him  my  suspicions  .of 
her  real  affection  for  you — alas !  to  my  own  future  sor- 
row. He  was  jealous  enough  of  you  before  I  unfortu- 
nately aroused  in  him  a  corresponding  feeling  toward 
his  wife ;  I  sowed  the  seed  of  their  future  misery. 

"  Day  after  day  I  watched  and  waited  for  some  move- 


384  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

ment  on  your  part.  I  saw  your  efforts  to  meet  Belle 
alone,  and  defeated  them  all.  I  noticed  too  how  almost 
unconsciously  her  heart  and  thoughts  turned  to  you,  in 
spite  of  the  check  she  had  received  from  you.  It  would 
seem  as  if  intuitively  she  knew  the  secret  that  governed 
you,  and  awaited  patiently  your  time  for  revealing  it. 

"I  see  that  you  are  astonished  at  my  hardihood  in 
confessing  all  this.  You  cannot  be  more  so  than  I  am 
myself.  I  can  hardly  realize  that  the  hour,  so  ardently 
longed  for,  has  come  at  last,  and  that  here,  on  my  knees, 
I  am  trying  to  repair  the  evil  that  I  did,  and  obtain  for- 
giveness for  my  sin.  Pity  me  now — this  is  the  worst 
part  of  all. 

"  One  evening,  after  vainly  attempting  to  talk  to  Belle 
undisturbed,  you  left  us,  and  went  into  the  library.  I  saw 
you  writing,  through  the  half-closed  door,  and  guessed 
what  it  was  that  you  were  doing.  That  night,  while 
you  and  Mr.  Masters  stood  talking  in  the  parlor,  I  re- 
turned to  the  library  for  the  book  that  I  had  been  read- 
ing before  dinner.  I  had  intended  finishing  it  there,  not 
feeling  sleepy ;  but  some  of  your  conversation  reached 
me,  and  I  gathered  from  it  that  you  were  speaking  of 
Claude.  I  did  not  care  to  listen,  so  I  determined  to 
carry  my  book  to  my  own  room.  You  will  sneer  at  my 
scruples  about  eaves-dropping,  when  you  hear  what  I 
afterward  did.  As  I  passed  the  table,  Belle's  volume 
of  poetry  attracted  me,  and  knowing  that  she  was  not 
tired,  I  thought  I  would  carry  it  up  with  me.  As  I  lift- 
ed it  very  carelessly,  something  dropped  from  it.  You 


HOW   THE   LINKS  WKKE   JOINED.  385 

guess  what  that  was,  and  what  I  did  with  it.  Do  not 
look  so  sorry  for  me ;  think  of  the  wrong  I  did  to  you.  I 
looked  at  the  address  on  the  letter,  and  then  at  the  seal. 
I  had  no  pity  for  you,  no  compassion  for  your  ruined 
hopes,  your  desolate,  altered  life.  I  only  thought  of 
Claude,  my  brother  that  I  loved  so  fondly,  his  youth,  his 
talents,  and  his  love. 

"  I  determined  that  Belle  should  never  see  the  letter. 
Could  I  have  foreseen  what  was  to  become  of  it,  I  should 
have  hastened  to  put  it  in  her  hands.  Looking  back  on 
that  night,  I  think  with  wonder  of  my  own  coolness ; 
but  it  was  the  foretaste  of  success  that  gave  me  courage 
to  carry  out  my  design.  I  returned  up-stairs.  I  sat 
and  read  for  hours  with  the  fatal  letter  in  my  pocket, 
and  discussed  with  Belle  our  plans  for  the  succeeding 
day.  After  she  slept,  I  went  into  the  adjoining  room, 
took  your  message  from  my  dress,  opened  and  read  it 
with  a  sensation  of  gratified  curiosity  at  having  at  last 
reached  the  cause  of  your  long  silence.  As  I  perused  it, 
I  understood  it  perfectly,  and  all  that  had  seemed  strange 
in  your  conduct  became  clear  before  me.  I  appreci- 
ated the  combined  delicacy  and  pride  that  had  controlled 
you,  and  I  realized  what  an  eifect  your  explanation 
would  have  on  Belle.  The  mere  thought  of  her  sus- 
pecting such  feelings  in  you  made  me  shiver,  and  for  a 
moment  I  felt  a  strong  desire  to  light  the  paper  at  the 
gas,  and  let  it  burn  to  ashes  on  the  hearth.  Something, 
however,  prompted  me  to  preserve  it, .and  I  placed  it  in 
a  secret  drawer  of  my  writing-desk.  The  next  day  you 
17 


386  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

started  on  your  return  to  Buffalo,  where  you  awaited 
some  sign  from  Belle.  I.recollect  distinctly  the  expres- 
sion of  your  face  when  you  took  leave  of  us  that  morn- 
ing, and  the  sad,  hopeless  one  that  dawned  in  hers  when 
again  you  left  her,  apparently  cool,  and  without  regret. 
"  Day  after  day  passed,  and  we  spent  our  time  in  a 
round  of  amusements.  Belle  was  at  first  quiet  and  reti- 
cent, no  doubt  surprised  at  your  conduct,  and  seeking  in 
vain  an  explanation  of  it  in  her  own  mind.  Then,  as  no 
letter  came  from  you,  her  suspicion  of  your  indifference 
to  her  became  a  settled,  firm  conviction,  and  with  all 
the  strength  and  energy  of  her  character  she  battled 
with  her  own  heart,  and  conquered.  The  struggle,  how- 
ever, took  away  the  remains  of  her  childishness,  and 
left  her  what  she  has  been  ever  since,  a  self-possessed, 
thoughtful  woman.  All  impulsiveness  and  passion 
were  gone,  and  it  would  seem  as  if  they  had  never  had 
any  part  in  her  being.  She  grew  cheerful  again  and 
light-hearted,  accepted  Claude's  attentions  with  pleasure, 
and,  putting  the  whole  past  away  from  her,  thought  only 
of  making  those  around  her  happy. 

"  As  the  months  went  by,  she  talked  of  you  openly 
and  unrestrainedly,  as  of  a  dear  and  valued  friend ;  and 
at  the  same  time  grew  more  and  more  attached  to 
Claude.  When  she  accepted  him,  she  did  it  voluntarily 
and  with  her  whole  heart.  She  respected  and  loved 
him,  and  he  occupied  all  her  thoughts.  She  was  devoted 
to  him  and  his  interests,  and  showed  it  in  looks  arid 
speech.  None  but  a  madman  or  a  fool  would  have 


HOW  THE   LINKS   WEEE   JOINED.  387 

doubted  her  truth.  Claude  once  or  twice  complained  of 
her  want  of  passion  ;  but,  had  he  been  wise,  he  would 
have  thought  more  highly  of  her  deep  respect  for  him, 
her  steady  love,  and  her  faith  in  his  goodness. 

"A  short  time  before  they  were  married,  he  was  talk- 
ing about  her  to  me,  and  he  made  the  remark,  that '  after 
all,  you  had  never  cared  for  her.'  I  was  foolish  enough 
to  mention  the  proof  of  your  love  that  was  in  my  pos- 
session, and  he  demanded  it,  insisting  on  his  right  to  see 
it.  I  allowed  him  to  persuade  me,  and  I  gave  it  to  him. 
He  promised  faithfully  to  destroy  it,  and  assured  me 
shortly  afterward  that  he  had  burnt  it.  Feeling  that 
all  trace  of  my  deception  was  destroyed,  I  ceased  to 
think  of  the  matter,  and  lived  in  a  state  of  perfect 
security.  You  went  to  Europe  as  soon  as  Belle's  en- 
gagement was  announced,  and  I  guessed  your  motive  in 
going,  and  saw  you  -leave  the  country  without  a  feeling 
of  pity  for  you,  or  remorse  for  what  I  had  done.  The 
end  seemed  to  justify  the  means,  and  the  perfect  happi- 
ness that  Claude  and  Belle  enjoyed  entirely  removed  any 
misgivings  that  I  might  have  otherwise  experienced. 

"  They  were  married,  and  for  six  months  their  life 
was  a  dream  of  pleasure;  they  were  like  the  lovers  in  a 
fairy  tale — happy  in  each  other,  and  causing  brightness 
wherever  they  went.  Then  came  the  sudden  shock  that 
brought  confusion  and  misery  into  the  house,  and  caused 
all  our  future  wretchedness. 

"  We  had  an  invitation  to  a  large  party.  How  well  I 
remember  the  day  !  it  was  in  November,  and  the  weather 


388  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

was  remarkably  mild  and  pleasant  for  that  season  of  the 
year.  We  were  sitting  at  the  dinner-table,  and  Belle 
was  about  going  up  to  dress  for  the  evening,  when  one 
of  the  servants  came  in  with  a  request.  She  wished  to 
go  out  with  a  friend,  and  she  wanted  some  money  to  buy 
a  dress.  You  can  see  now  what  a  trifling  circumstance 
brought  on  our  troubles. 

"Belle  gave  her  permission  to  go,  and  turning  to 
Claude  asked  him  if  he  had  ten  dollars  in  his  pocket,  as 
her  purse  was  up-stairs ;  and  then  she  added,  laughingly, 
that  she  did  not  think  there  was  so  much  in  it. 

" Claude  replied  gayly:  'Your  flowers  for  to-night 
took  every  cent  I  had,  but  you  will  find  a  quantity  of 
notes  in  the  little  drawer  of  my  desk.  Shall  I  bring 
you  some  ? '  He  would  have  gone  for  them ;  but  she 
laid  her  hand  on  his  head  and  detained  him. 

"  *  I  am  just  going  up,  so  you  need  not  stir,'  she  said, 
*  but  I  thank  you  for  remembering  my  favorite  flowers.' 
She  bent  over  him,  her  eyes  shining  softly,  kissed  him 
lovingly,  and  then  left  the  room. 

"  It  was  the  last  voluntary  caress  she  ever  gave  him. 
We  heard  her  light  step  on  the  stairs,  and  after  a  few 
minutes'  conversation,  Claude  lit  his  cigar,  and  I  went 
to  my  room  to  dress  for  the  party.  When  I  was  nearly 
ready,  I  took  my  flowers  in  my  hand  and  ran  down  to 
her  with  them.  She  could  arrange  them  in  my  hair 
more  gracefully  than  I  could  myself,  and  always  did  it 
for  me. 

"I  pushed  open  the  door  of  her  dressing-room,  and 


HOW  THE   LINKS  WERE   JOINED.  389 

went  in.  The  fire  wa*s  burning  brightly,  but  the  light 
was  turned  low,  and  I  was  surprised  at  the  silence,  and 
the  absence  of  all  disorder  among  her  things  on  the  toi- 
let-table. At  first  I  thought  that  she  had  dressed  and 
gone  down-stairs ;  but  while  I  stood  thinking,  I  heard 
something  like  a  moan  in  her  bedroom,  and,  attracted  by 
the  sound,  I  went  in  hastily,  fearing  I  knew  not  what. 

"  She  was  lying  on  the  floor,  her  head  resting  on  her 
arms,  and  her  face  entirely  hidden  from  me ;  but  her 
whole  frame  was  convulsed  with  the  agony  that  she  was 
trying  in  vain  to  suppress.  In  the  utter  extremity  of 
her  grief  she  had  thrown  herself  thus  on  the  ground,  for- 
getful of  every  thing  but  the  remorse  that  had  taken  pos- 
session of  her.  I  tried  to  raise  her,  too  much  surprised 
to  speak,  and  her  blanched  face  frightened  me ;  but  what 
were  my  horror  and  shame,  my  bitter  despair,  when  an 
open  paper  dropped  from  her  hand,  and  I  recognized 
your  letter !  The  whole  mystery  flashed  upon  me  in  a 
second,  and  I  began  to  tremble  for  the  result  of  my  cruel 
treachery. 

"  While  I  was  yet  bending  over  her,  trying  to  soothe 
her,  and  promising  to  explain  every  thing,  Claude  saun- 
tered into  the  room,  and,  supposing  that  Belle  had  been 
attacked  with  a  sudden  illness,  he  hastened  to  assist 
her,  his  face  anxious  and  sad.  Its  expression  changed 
as  iris  eyes  fell  on  the  fatal  letter,  and  Belle  noticed  the 
alteration  in  him.  She  caught  it  up  eagerly,  and  then, 
rising  without  aid,  demanded  to  know  what  it  all  meant, 
and  how  it  came  into  her  husband's  possession. 


390  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

"  Her  voice  shook  -with  emotion,  and  she  gasped  fpr 
breath  as  she  spoke  ;  still  she  listened  patiently  Avhile  I 
confessed  every  thing,  and  tried  to  take  the'  whole  blame 
on  myself.  She  looked  from  one  to  the  other  of  us  until 
I  had  finished,  and  then  suddenly  catching  Claude's 
hand,  she  asked — 

" '  Did  you  know  of  this  and  read  it  before  you  mar- 
ried me  ? ' 

"  His  answer  in  the  affirmative  seemed  to  crush  her 
with  sorrow. 

"  '  All  false  ! '  she  murmured.  '  You  that  I  respected 
and  loved !  You  that  I  trusted  entirely  ! ' 

"Her  husband's  want  of  honor  and  the  wrong  done  to 
you  were  the  two  powerful  griefs  working  in  her  heart. 
She  had  invested  Claude  with  the  finest  qualities  of 
humanity ;  she  believed  him  to  be  up  to  the  highest 
standard  of  moral  integrity ;  and,  wrhen  she  found  her 
image  broken,  she  gave  full  vent  to  her  despair.  With 
a  bitter  cry  she  hid  her  face  in  her  hands,  and,  shak- 
ing into  a  chair,  she  recalled  the  many  kindnesses  that 
you  had  shown  her,  and  wept  for  your  disappoint- 
ment. I  understood  her  grief,  and  the  mingled  emo- 
tions that  caused  it.  I  saw  that  she  never  thought  of 
herself,  that  her  whole  heart  was  absorbed  in  the  con- 
viction of  her  husband's  unworthiness,  and  the  sad 
knowledge  that  her  respect  for  him  was  gone  forever* 

"  It  seemed  to  me  that  Claude  should  have  under- 
stood her  also,  and  tried  in  every  way  to  obtain  her 
forgiveness  and  soothe  her  wounded  feelings ;  particu- 


nOW  THE   LINKS  WEEK   JOUSTED.  391 

larly  as  I  Lad  bee^jjie  most  to  blame,  an  excuse  lie 
might  have  urged  in  his  own  defence.  Had  he  done  so, 
the  mischief*  might  have  ended  there.  Alas  !  he  mis- 
construed the  cause  of  her  tears,  and  became  angry  with 
her.  The  seed  of  jealousy  that  I  had  planted  in  his 
heart  sprang  into  life  and  bore  bitter  fruit. 

"  He  worked  himself  into  a  furious  passion,  and  ac- 
cused her  of  having  loved  you  first  and  best.  Incapable 
of  comprehending  the  refined  sensitiveness  of  her  nature, 
and  blind  to  the  claims  that  you  really  had  on  her  grati- 
tude and  affection,  he .  taunted  her  in  a  way  that  no 
woman  of  spirit  could  resist  answering.  In  his  insen- 
sate folly  he  taxed  her  with  lack  of  candor  in  not  having 
confessed  to  him  her  former  passion  for  you.  The  idea 
of  expecting  a  young,  innocent  girl  to  acknowledge  the 
existence  of  a  feeling  to  which  she  had  never  given  ex- 
pression by  word  or  look,  and  shrank  from  admitting 
even  to  herself,  was  so  utterly  absurd  and  insulting,  that 
I  did  not  wonder  at  Belle's  reply. 

"She  sprang  from  her  seat  and  faced  him.  Her 
tears  stopped,  and  her  cheeks  flamed  with  indignation. 

" '  You  wrong  me  cruelly,  Claude,'  she  exclaimed. 
'  You  have  no  right  to  taunt  me  thus.  You  know  I 
loved  you,  and  you  only,  when  I  married  you.  I  had 
nothing  to  tell  you,  nothing  to  confess.  The  wild  fan- 
cies and  romantic  dreams  of  an  impulsive,  imaginative 
child-  would  have  sounded  more  than  silly  if  put  into 
language,  and  could  have  only  excited  your  ridi- 
cule.' 


392  DE.  WILHER'S  LOVE. 


"  Her  answer,  instead  of  appfM^ng  him,  only  added 
to  the  jealousy  that  was  mastering  him. 

"  '  Then  you  acknowledge,'  he  exclaimed,  in  a  threat- 
ening tone,  '  that  you  did  indulge  in  wild  fancies  and 
romantic  dreams  about  this  Doctor  Wilmer?' 

"  '  I  cannot  deny  it,'  she  said,  quietly.  '  I  suppose 
it  was  the  natural  consequence*  of  my  ignorance  and 
loneliness.  Unless  you  could  have  seen  me  as  he  found 
me,  you  could  not  appreciate  his  claims  on  my  gratitude 
and  affection,  nor  the  deep  admiration  for  him  that  took 
possession  of  me.  My  own  folly  I  conquered  long  ago, 
but  I  cannot  overcome  the  sorrow  that  this  letter  of 
his  causes  me,  and  I  feel  it  all  the  more  because  I  may 
not  explain  to  him  my  coldness  and  silence.  I  dare  not 
justify  myself  in  his  eyes,  nor  ask  his  pardon  for  the 
blow  I  have  dealt  him.' 

"  She  was  looking  at  the  letter  with  tearful  eyes  as 
she  spoke,  and,  before  I  could  prevent  the  act,  Claude 
seized  it  from  her  rudely,  tore  it  in  pieces,  and  then 
threw  it  on  the  blazing  coals.  She  watched  it  burning, 
mute  with  surprise  and  dismay,  and  then  covered  her 
face  with  her  hands. 

"  '  You  could  not  trust  me  even  in  that,'  she  said,  in 
a  stifled  tone. 

"  '  No  !  '  Claude  said,  angrily.  *  And  in  future,  you 
must  leave  my  papers  alone.  I  would  not  have  sus- 
pected you,  who  are  so  conscientious,  of  ransacking  my 
desk.' 

"  '  I  opened  the  wrong  drawer  by  mistake,  and  the 


HOW  THE   LINKS  WERE   JOmED.  393 

letter  was  lying  before  my  eyes ;  I  supposed  it  to  be 
one  of  mine,  and  I  wondered  how  it  could  have  strayed 
among  your -things.  After  giving  the  girl  her  money, 
I  unfolded  it  mechanically,  and  read  it,  too  much  sur- 
prised to  speak.  Its  discovery  was  wholly  accidental ; 
I  never  suspected  the  existence  of  such  a  paper.' 

"  As  Belle  answered  this  last  accusation,  I  trembled 
at  the  sound  of  her  voice.  It  was  clear  and  steady. 
Self-possession  had  returned  to  her.  I  felt  that  Claude 
was  risking  his  whole  future  happiness  in  his  foolish 
anger,  and  I  left  them,  feeling  intensely  miserable,  and 
dimly  foreseeing  the  coming  misfortune. 

"  The  breach  between  them  widened  daily.  I  looked 
in  vain  for  something  capable  of  drawing  their  hearts 
together  again.  Claude  was  indignant,  and  took  no 
trouble  to  hide  the  fact.  His  pride  was  offended,  and 
he  expected  his  wife  to  be  the  first  to  ask  forgiveness. 
Belle  seemed  weighed  down  with  the  bitterness  of  her 
grief,  and  asked  in  vain  for  comfort  or  sympathy  from 
her  husband.  He  either  could  not  or  would  not  under- 
stand her  mind,  and  her  respect  for  him  was  diminish- 
ing under  the  heavy  blow  it  had  received. 

"Their  visible  coolness  toward  each  other  excited 
much  comment,  and  Mrs.  Masters  invented  every  imagi- 
nable excuse  for  it,  the  real  one  being  entirely  unsuspect- 
ed by  any  one.  We  three  holders  of  the  secret  guarded 
it  faithfully.  When  Arthur  was  born,  there  was  a  change 
for  the  better  that  gladdened  all  our  hearts.  Claude 
softened  toward  his  wife,  and  Belle  seemed  willing  to 
17* 


394:  DE.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

forget  every  thing  unpleasant  that  had  passed  and  let 
the  old  love  resume  its  sway.  Unhappily,  Claude's 
jealousy  was  not  overcome  ;  it  still  burned  in  his  heart, 
and  manifested  itself  on  the  most  trivial  occasions. 
It  seemed  to  increase  just  in  proportion  as  his  true 
affection  died  out.  I  acknowledge  that  he  was  fickle ; 
the  love  that  I  thought  enduring  was  only  a  passion, 
destined  to  give  place  to  others  in  their  turn.  The 
mere  sight  .of  your  mother  or  sister  would  excite  his 
anger,  and  the  mention  of  your  name  drove  him  furious. 
Belle's  love  was  insufficient  to  resist  so  many  attacks 
upon  it.  She  never  offended  him  in  word  or  deed,  and 
avoided  every  thing  that  could  arouse  his  jealousy ; 
still  I  saw  with  despair  that  he  was  slowly  but  surely 
wearing  out  her  affection. 

"  His  passion  for  speculation  gave  her  much  uneasi- 
ness, and  the  low  company  that  it  led  him  into  offended 
her  refined  taste  and  shocked  her  principles.  Such  a 
means  for  making  money  was,  in  her  opinion,  only 
licensed  robbery,  and  she  regarded  his  participation  in 
it  with  perfect  horror. 

"  His  want  of  trust  in  her  wounded  her  to  the  heart ; 
he  would  not  allow  her  for  years  to  revisit  her  old 
home.  You  remember  his  anger  the  night  that  he 
opened  the  gate  and  found  you  talking  with  her.  In 
his  passion  he  forgot  that  you  were  unaware  of  what 
he  knew  so  well,  and  insulted  Belle  with  bitter  taunts 
that  must  have  sounded  strange  to  you.  He  took  her 
back  to  New  York  as  soon  as  it  was  possible,  and  then, 


HOW  THE   LINKS  WEBE  JOINED.  395 

with  the  greatest  inconsistency,  neglected  her  for  other 
women. 

"  The  night  that  he  was  killed,  your  presence  in  the 
hotel  seemed  to  me  something  almost  prophetic.  Had 
your  heart  been  filled  with  a  desire  for  revenge,  nothing 
was  wanting  to  satisfy  it.  He  was  lying  a  shattered 
corpse,  and  I  was  reaping  the  punishment  I  deserved,  to 
its  most  bitter  extent.  When  I  realized  that  no  such 
feeling  brought  you  there  at  that  time,  that  your  com- 
ing was  entirely  accidental,  then  indeed  it  seemed  as  if 
Providence  was  at  work,  and  that  my  sin  had  found  me 
out.  If  only  you  might  live  now,  live  to  repair  the 
evil  I  did,  and  enjoy  the  happiness  so  long  denied  you  ! 
At  least  tell  me  that  you  forgive  me.  Have  mercy  on 
me  !  Forget  that  I  had  none  for  you." 

Her  voice  died  away  in  a  low  sob  as  she  ceased,  and 
she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  while  a  convulsive 
trembling  took  possession  of  her  whole  form. 

"As  I  hope  for  mercy,"  I  said,  "  I  do  forgive  you." 

The  words  reached  her  ears  in  spite  of  the  faint  tone 
in  which  I  uttered  them,  but  she  made  no  reply.  I 
was  shocked  at  the  weakness  of  my  own  voice.  I  closed 
my  eyes,  and  remained  silent,  dazzled  by  the  flood  of 
light  that  she  had  let  in  on  my  bewildered  mind.  A 
little  while  passed;  then  she  rose  quietly  and  went 
away.  A  few  moments  afterward  she  was  bending 
over  me,  feeding  me  with  the  soup  that  she  had  gone 
to  procure.  Her  manner  had  regained  its  usual  dig- 
nified coolness,  and  her  voice  its  old  steadiness.  No 


396  DE.  WILHER'S  LOVE. 

one  would  have  recognized  in  her  the  passionate,  im- 
pulsive woman  who  had  knelt  at  my  couch  a  short  time 
before,  asking  for  pardon  in  tones  that  trembler!  with 
sorrow  and  remorse. 

I  could  have  imagined  the  whole  story  a  wild  dream, 
but  for  the  soft,  happy  expression  that  dawned  in.  her 
eyes  when  they  met  mine,  as  if  trying  to  imbue  me 
with  some  of  the  hope  and  peace  that  were  filling  her 
own  heart.  I  lay  for  hours  in  a  delirium  of  joy  that 
thrilled  through  my  whole  being,  incapable  of  speaking, 
of  thinking.  Then  I  fell  into  a  sound,  refreshing  sleep, 
out  of  which  I  awakened  to  find  the  screen  removed, 
and  Miss  Pauline  seated  near  me,  fanning  away  the 
flies. 

"  The  doctor  says  that  you  are  out  of  danger,"  she 
whispered,  bending  over  me  with  tearful  eyes. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE    QUESTION    ANSWERED. 

THIS  joyful  assurance  answered  the  convictions  of 
my  own  heart,  and  had  a  magical  effect  on  my  spiiits. 
I  began  to  improve  with  an  energy  that  quite  aston- 
ished the  kind  physician  who  had  attended  me  so  faith- 
fully, and  Miss  Pauline  communicated  the  news  to  my 
anxious  mother  and  sister.  She  had  written  to  them^of 
my  condition  all  along,  until  the  day  when  the  doctor 
had  pronounced  my  case  hopeless.  Then  her  courage 
forsook  her,  and,  happily  for  us  all,  she  had  found  her- 
self unequal  to  the  task  of  sending  them  the  sad  intel- 
ligence. Perhaps  the  strong  hope  in  my  ultimate  re- 
covery, which  had  never  failed  her,  partly  controlled 
her  silence.  At  any  rate,  they  had  remained  ignorant 
of  my  extreme  danger,  and  I  was  pleased  to  have  it  so. 
My  mother  was  still  so  weak  that  she  could  ill  have 
spared  my  sister's  care,  and  her  presence  in  the  hospital 
could  have  done  me  no  good,  although  it  would  have 
been  a  great  comfort  to  me  during  my  convalescence. 

Those  long  August  days  passed  slowly  but  not  un- 


398  DE.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

pleasantly  to  me.  One  was  but  the  repetition  of 
another — the  only  difference  that  marked  them  being 
the  gradual  increase  of  strength  which  came  to  me  so 
gently,  yet  so  surely.  My  mind  regained  its  tone  and 
elasticity,  while  my  body  was  still  feeble ;  and  as  I  re- 
clined on  my  couch,  or  dragged  my  tottering  limbs 
from  one  corner  of  the  long  room  to  another,  my 
thoughts  dwelt  on  the  future,  and  revelled  in  dreams  of 
happiness  far  wilder  than  any  that  I  had  ever  before 
indulged  in.  Miss  Pauline  Lecount's  revelation  had,  at 
first,  utterly  confounded  me ;  it  was  so  strange  and  un- 
expected, so  entirely  at  variance  with  all  my  former 
reasoning  on  the  subject.  Fully  convinced,  in  my  own 
mind,  of  Mrs.  Lecount's  indifference  to  me,  I  had  spent 
years  endeavoring  to  nourish  a  corresponding  feeling 
for  her  in  my  heart.  The  labor  bad  cost  me  dear,  the 
struggle  had  been  long  and  bitter.  Still  I  had  con- 
quered. I  prided  myself  on  the  success  of  my  efforts. 
Now  I  found  myself  surrounded  by  the  ruins  of  my 
work  that  I  had  thought  so  strong ;  my  barriers  of 
pride  and  coolness  undermined,  overthrown,  and  swept 
away,  by  a  few  words  in  a  woman's  soft  voice ;  and  a 
torrent  of  passionate  love  and  hope  mastering  me  as 
of  old. 

As  I  reflected  calmly  on  all  that  had  passed,  I  saw 
how  I  had  cast  away  the  heart  that  I  might  have  won  ; 
and,  when  I  realized'all  that  had  since  taken  place,  my 
hopes  gave  way  to  anxious  fears.  What  if  I  had  lost 
forever  the  power  of  inspiring  the  love  which  I  coveted 


THE    QUESTION   ANSWERED.  399 

so  much  ?  It  was  possible.  In  spite,  however,  of  these 
gloomy  doubts,  which  would  at  times  intrude  them- 
selves upon  me,  I  was  very  happy,  and  every  thing  about 
me  was  a  subject  of  interest  and  pleasure.  I  longed  for 
the  day  to  come  on  which  I  should  be  able  to  start  for 
home,  and  yet  I  clung  to  the  narrow  hospital-room 
whicli  had  been  the  scene  of  such  intense  misery,  such 
intoxicating  joy.  I  should  carry  away  with  me,  and 
retain  always,  the  memories  connected  with  it  and  its 
inmates.  I  should  see  again  the  rows  of  little  beds  with 
their  white  coverlids  ;  the  quiet  figures  stretched  upon 
them,  some  sleeping,  others  reading;  a  few  amusing 
themselves  with  musical  instruments  and  curious  puzzles, 
while  here  and  there  two  earnest  thinkers,  with  bent 
brows,  supported  on  thin  hands  that  told  of  fever,  stud- 
ied the  pieces  on  a  chess-board,  and  made  the  moves  with 
cautious  gravity.  I  would  look  in  fancy  through  the  open 
windows  at  the  blue  sky,  the  green  trees,  the  busy  crowd 
coming  and  going  in  the  street  below,  and  enjoy  again 
the  exquisite  coloring  that  foretold  the  dawn,  and  the 
glorious  beauty  of  the  clouds  at  sunset.  How  far  love- 
lier they  appeared  now  to  the  longing  eyes  of  the  sick 
men  than  they  had  ever  done  in  the  days  of  health, 
when  the  mind  was  too  much  occupied  with  the  things 
of  earth  to  concern  itself  with  the  wonders  of  the 
heavens ! 

In  those  weeks  of  convalescence  I  saw  but  little  of 
Miss  Pauline  Lecount ;  she  was  occupied  with  those  who 
were  still  in  danger ;  and  we,  who  were  no  longer  sub- 


4:00  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

jects  of  anxiety,  were  left  to  entertain  each  other.  On 
the  day  of  my  departure  she  came  to  me  where  I  was 
standing  in  the  hall  of  the  building,  muffled  up  in 
shawls,  leaning  on  my  stick,  and  waiting  for  the  driver 
to  put  my  trunk  on  the  carriage.  She  had  previously 
packed  my  things,  arranged  some  little  comforts  for 
me  to  use  on  the  journey  home,  and  taken  leave  of 
me.  I  was  therefore  surprised  when  she  came  hur- 
riedly down  the  stairs  and  approached  me  with  visible 
agitation. 

"  Are  yo$  sure  that  you  are  warm  enough,  and  do 
you  feel  quite  comfortable  ?  "  she  said,  nervously. 

I  assured  her  that  I  felt  quite  well,  and  would  soon 
be  able  to  dispense  with  my  heavy  cane.  "  It  makes 
me  think  myself  very  old,"  I  added,  laughingly. 

"Please  do  not  imagine  such  nonsense,"  she  said, 
looking  rather  sad,  and  then  going  on  after  a  little  hesi- 
tation. "  Will  you  give  Belle  a  message  for  me  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  any  thing  you  wish." 

She  colored  painfully.  "  Tell  her  that  I  have  cleared 
my  conscience  of  the  question  that  troubled  it  for  so 
long.  Remember,  you  have  promised." 

She  was  gone  before  I  had  time  to  raise  an  objection 
to  her  singular  request,  and,  penetrating  the  motive  that 
prompted  her,  I  understood  the  cause  of  her  strange 
manner.  I  was  still  thinking  over  the  subject  when  I 
reached  the  depot,  and  took  my  seat  in  the  cars  on  my 
way  home. 

On  arriving  in  New  York  I  found  that  I  had  over- 


THE   QUESTION   ANSWEKED.  401 

rated  my  strength.  I  was  completely  exhausted,  and 
therefore  was  obliged  to  put  up  for  two  days  at  a  hotel. 
I  had  written  to  ray  sister,  telling  her  when  I  should 
start  from  "Washington,  and  declining  any  escort  on  the 
score  of  feebleness.  This  unintentional  exaggeration  of 
my  state  of  health  deceived  them  so  much,  that  my  non- 
appearance  at  the  appointed  time  gave  them  no  uneasi- 
ness ;  and  when  at  last  I  alighted  at  the  station  in  my 
own  village,  a  bitter,  desolate  feeling  came  over  me  on 
seeing  that  no  friendly  face  awaited  me.  I  had  to  re- 
main there  for  some  time,  as  the  house  was  not  within 
walking  distance  for  me,  and  there  was  no  vehicle  to  be 
had  at  the  moment.  However,  once  seated  in  a  com- 
fortable wagon  on  my  way  home,  the  beauty  of  the 
weather  and  the  scenery  overcame  the  dreary  sensation ; 
and,  when  I  lifted  the  latch  of  the  gate,  my  weakness 
was  forgotten  in  the  rush  of  joyful,  thankful  emotions 
that  overwhelmed  me. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon  in  September.  A  gentle 
breeze  was  stirring  the  branches  of  the  trees,  causing 
that  peculiar  rustling  sound  only  heard  in  the  quiet 
country.  With  it  came«the  perfume  of  new-mown  hay, 
and  the  busy  hum  of  insects.  The  flowers  were  sway- 
ing to  and  fro,  bending  their  pretty  heads  together,  and, 

• 

as  I  leaned  on  the  gate,  the  mingled  scent  of  the  helio- 
tropes and  petunias  was.  wafted  toward  me.  The  sun 
was  already  setting  in  the  west,  and  the  front  of  the 
house,  the  porch,  and  the  veranda,  were  bathed  in  the 
flood  of  its  golden  light.  As  I  went  wearily  up  the 


402  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

path,  a  shout  of  childish  merriment  broke  the  stillness, 
and,  looking  toward  the  direction  from  which  it  came,  a 
charming  picture  met  my  sight.  In 'the  shadow  of  an 
old  chestnut-tree  nurse  Flo  was  sitting  with  baby  Jack 
in  her  arms,  Aithur  and  Harry  were  pitching  ball, 
while  Dash  watched  their  movements  with  eager  eyes, 
and  made  vain  efforts  to  catch  it  in  his  mouth  as  it 
bounded  over  the  grass.  At  each  fresh  attempt,  little 
Edith,  who-  stood  by,  would  laugh  aloud  and  clap  her 
hands  with  glee.  I  stopped  almost  involuntarily  to  en- 
joy the  bright  scene,  and  the  next  moment  the  huge  dog 
came  rushing  toward  me,  barking  with  delight.  As  it 
sprang  fawning  upon  me,  the  children  looked  frightened, 
but,  suddenly  guessing  who  I  was,  the  two  boys  started 
for  the  house,  with  the  news  of  my  arrival.  A  minute 
after,  my  sister  was  flying  down  the  walk  with  out- 
stretched hands  to  welcome  me,  and  my  mother  was 
pressing  forward  with  feeble  steps,  leaning,  as  I  sup- 
posed, on  Mrs.  "Weston's  arm.  When  I  raised  my  head, 
after  embracing  her,  I  found  myself  face  to  face  with 
Mrs.  Lecount.  In  my  surprise  I  could  not  utter  a  word, 
but  her  easy,  unembarrassed  manner  quickly  reassured 
me.  She  did  not  know  what  I  had  heard. 

"  Thank  Heaven,  you  are  home  safe  at  last ! "  she 
said,  taking  ray  hand  in  hers,  and  smiling  kindly.  "  We 
were  all  beginning  to  feel  anxious  about  yon,  and  Mr. 
Masters  had  made  up  his  mind  to  go  in  search  of  you 
to-morrow." 

"  Now  that  we  have  you,  John,"  my  sister  said, 


TUE    QUESTION   A^SWEEED.  403 

'  we  sLall  keep  you  with  us ;  you  have  done  your  share 
of  the  work,  and  we  want  you  here." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  I 
shall  be  able  to  attend  to  any  thing  in  the  way  of  duty. 
I  shall  give  you  trouble  enough  nursing  me  for  many 
weeks  to  come." 

"  Say  rather,  pleasure.  And  now,  to  begin  with," 
went  on  my  sister,  "  do  you  resign  yourself  entirely  into 
our  hands  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  came  home  to  be  petted." 

"Well,  then,  lie  down  on  the  sofa  in  the  sitting-room, 
and  Belle  will  bring  you  some  pillows,  while  I  get  your 
supper  ready.  Molher'will  sit  beside  you,  and  tell  you 
every  thing  that  is  going  on  in  the  village." 

"  Where  is  Mrs.  Weston  ?  "  I  asked,  as  I  obeyed  or- 
ders, and  took  possession  of  the  soft,  easy  lounge. 

"  Gone  to  visit  one  of  her  pupils,  who  is  sick.  Dear 
Edith,  how  delighted  she  will  be  to  see  you." 

"Florida  has  taken  all  the  children  off  to  Mr.  Mas- 
ters', to  tell  him  the  news,"  said  my  mother. 

While  she  talked  cheerfully,  on  topics  interesting  and 
new  to  me,  I  lay  comfortably  ensconced  in  my  corner  of 
the  room,  feeling  intensely  happy,  in  spite  of  my  utter 
helplessness.  It  seemed  as  if,  once  at  home,  my  strength 
had  all  failed  me,  but,  as  it  turned  out,  it  was  only  the 
exhaustion  consequent  on  my  day's  travel. 

My  sister  went  about  from  room  to  room,  throwing 
me  bright  smiles  whenever  she  passed  my  sofa ;  mother 
smoothed  my  hair,  and  tenderly  arranged  the  pillows 


404:  DR.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

under  my  head  with  gentle  hands  and  caressing  words. 
In  spite  of  my  years,  the  soft  touch  upon  my  forehead, 
and  the  loving  expression  of  her  eyes  as  they  met  mine, 
exerted  over  me  the  same  soothing  influence  that  they 
had  ever  done  in  my  childish  days.  Mrs.  Lecount  had 
resumed  her  seat  in  the  window,  and  was  busy  knitting 
a  stocking,  now  and  then  taking  part  in  the  conversation. 
Notwithstanding  the  gayety  of  manner  which  they 
had  all  assumed,  and  the  light,  would-be-careless  tones 
of  their  voices,  I  penetrated  the  mask,  and  understood 
the  heavy,  grief-struck  hearts  beneath  it.  My  appear- 
ance had  shocked  them  all,  and  I  did  not  wonder  at  the 
fact.  What  my  wounds  had  spared,  the  ravages  of  the 
fever  had  taken  away.  I  was  worn  to  a  skeleton,  I  was 
haggard  and  pale,  my  eyes  were  dim  and  sunken,  with 
dark  circles  under  them,  and  the  streaks  of  gray  were 
quite  visible  in  my  hair.  In  the  hospital,  where  I  was 
only  one  among  many,  the  alteration  in  my  looks  had 
not  seemed  so  fearful  nor  so  noticeable.  When  I  left 
that,  and  went  among  men  in  perfect  health,  the  change 
partly  struck  me,  but  I  never  fully  realized  it  until  I 
found  myself  lying  on  the  sofa  in  my  mother's  room,  with 
Mrs.  Lecount  sitting  opposite  to  me.  When  I  recalled 
my  face  as  I  had  seen  it  that  morning  reflected  in  one 
of  the  hotel  mirrors,  and  then  looked  at  hers,  I  felt  every 
hope  that  I  had  been  feeding  upon  for  weeks  die  out  of 
my  heart,  and  a  feeling  of  bitter,  wild  despair  take  pos- 
session of  me.  It  seemed  to  me  that  the  last  remnant 
of  my  youth  was  gone,  that  the  two  months  of  pain  and 


THE   QUESTION   ANSWERED.  405 

fever  had  added  ten  years  to  my  age.  And  she — I  could 
have  fancied  that  the  past  years,  so  full  of  events,  were 
but  a  dream,  and  that  she  was  still  the  innocent,  thought- 
less child,  yet  seeking  refuge  from  danger  at  my  mother's 
hearth. 

The  return  of  rest  and  peace  had  restored  the  color 
to  her  cheeks  and  the  roundness  to  her  form.  The  un- 
natural restraint  that  she  had  imposed  upon  herself  for 
so  long,  had  all  disappeared.  Her  manner  had  regained 
the  softness  which  had  been  one  of  her  greatest  charms. 
As  I  lay  musing  thus,  only  half  conscious  of  what  they 
were  saying  for  my  entertainment,  and  watching  the 
pretty  features  partly  turned  toward  me,  I  saw  a  tear  fall 
from  the  long  dark  eyelash,  and  glisten  on  the  coarse 
gray  wool  in  her  hands. 

She  rose  hastily,  and  stood  looking  out  of  the  win- 
dow, without  trusting  herself  to  speak,  while  she  tried 
to  overcome  her  emotion.  How  well  I  knew  the" cause 
of  her  grief!  My  broken  health,  my  altered  features, 
might  have  excited  her  pity,  even  had  she  not  held  the 
secret  of  my  life.  Perhaps  the  conviction  that  the  dis- 

* 

tance  between  us  had  increased,  and  not  diminished,  was 
coming  home  to  her,  as  it  had  to  me. 

"Don't  grow  anxious  about  Arthur,  Belle,"  said  my 
mother,  mistaking  her  reason  for  leaving  her  seat. 

"  Belle,  will  you  cut  some  flowers  for  the  table  ?  " 
called  out  my  sister,  a  moment  after. 

"  Oh,  yes,  do !  It  is  more  than  two  years  since  John 
saw  a  blossom  out  of  our  garden,  or  smelt  the  lemon- 


406  DK.  WILMER'S  LOVE. 

verbena,  his  old •  favorite,"  added  my  mother.  "There 
is  a  pair  of  scissors  on  the  bench,"  she  continued,  with- 
out taking  her  eyes  off  my  face. 

Mrs.  Lecount  opened  the  glass  door  without  answer- 
ing,'and  went  out  noiselessly. 

My  mother  patted  my  hands  and  stroked  my  hair, 
murmuring,  as  she  did  so,  her  thanks  to  the  kind  Provi- 
dence that  had  restored  her  son  to  her  in  safety. 

.  Master  Arthur  Lecount   interrupted    the  quiet  by 
darting  into  the  room,  and  breathlessly  confronting  us. 

"  Where  is  little  mamma  ?  "  he  asked,  as  he  took  off 
his  straw  hat  politely,  and  glanced  around  the  place. 
He  was  a  picture  of  childish  beauty  standing  thus,  with 
his  flushed  cheeks,  his  golden  curls  hanging  about  his 
neck  in  becoming  disorder,  and  shading  the  great,  deep, 
luminous  brown  eyes  out  of  which  the  innocent  soul 
seemed  to  look. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Arthur  ?  "  asked  my  mother. 

"  Why,  they  are  all  coming,  Mr.  Masters,  and  Mrs. 
Masters,  and  Mrs.  Weston,  and  I  ran  home  to  tell  you." 

Catching  my  eyes,  he  hesitated  and  blushed. 

"  Come  and  speak  to  me,"  I  said,  holding  out  my 
hand. 

He  took  it  in  his,  and  looked  attentively  at  my  straps. 

"  Are  you  a  soldier,  like  Uncle  Victor  ?  He  was 
home,  and  I  played  soldier  with  his  sword  ;  but  he  is 
gone  away  again." 

"Is  he?" 

"  Yes.     Do  you  know  what  he  went  to  do  ? "   he 


THE   QUESTION   ANSWEBED.  407 

whispered  mysteriously,  his  eyes  brightening  with 
wonder. 

I  shook  my  head. 

"To  kill  rebs.  That  is  what  he  said;  but  little 
mamma  won't  let  me  say  it  out  loud,  nor  tell  Harry."  . 

He  ran  away  the  next  moment,  having  caught  a 
glimpse  of  his  mother's  white  dress  in  the  garden. 

"  Where  did  he  hear  that  name  for  his  mother  ?  "  I 
asked. 

"  Oh !  that  is  original.  It  is  his  way  of  distinguish- 
ing* her  from  his  grandmother.  He  calls  old  Mrs.  Le- 
count  his  great  mamma,  and  Belle  his  little  mamma. 
We  think  it  quite  amusing." 

Mrs.  Weston  coming  in  with  her  children,  followed 
.by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masters,  ended  our  tete-d-tete.  For  the 
rest  of  the  evening  I  played  listener,  while  the  others 
discussed  my  affairs,  and  planned  endless  schemes  for  my 
benefit.  They  wanted  me  to  send  in  my  resignation 
the  ensuing  day,  and  I  promised  to  consider  the  sub- 
ject at  leisure,  not  washing  to  give  too  hasty  an  answer. 

Young  Mrs.  Lecount  heard  the  noisy  argument  with- 
out making  any  remark  on  the  matter ;  she  only  bent 
closer  over  the  little  heads  near  her,  and  helped  the 
childish  hands  to  build  the  block-houses.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Masters  had  regained  their  old  spirits,  and  were  as 
happy  and  good-natured  as  ever.  Mrs.  Weston  looked 
stronger  than  I  had  expected  to  find  her,  and  appeared 
cheerful  and  contented.  Baby  Jack  laughed  and  crowed, 
and  was  danced  up  and  down  by  every  one  in  turn  until 


408  DK.  WILMEK'S  LOVE. 

his  bright  eyes  closed  with  sleep,  and  Florida  carried 
him  off  to  his  cradle.  The  circle  was  enlarged  after 
supper  by  the  arrival  of  a  number  of  our  neighbors, 
and  it  was  quite  late  when  the  party  broke  up. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masters  went  home  last,  taking  Mrs. 
Lecount  and  her  son  with  them.  For  a  week  my  mother 
and  sister  were  busy  entertaining  the  fiiends  and  ac- 
quaintances that  called  on  me,  and  then  the  house  set- 
tled into  the  usual  quiet  routine  of  daily  life.  My 
mother  was  still  feeble,  and  seldom  left  her  room  until 
afternoon.  I  regained  strength  very  slowly,  and  spent 
the  greater  part  of  each  day  on  the  lounge  in  the  sit- 
ting-room, where  the  prattle  of  the  children  amused 
me,  and  where  I  could  read  and  write  as  the  fancy 
seized  me.  Mrs.  Weston  went  every  morning,  with 
cheerful  looks  and  energetic  steps,  to  the  little  school- 
house,  where  she  taught  with  gentle  firmness  the  unruly 
spirits  that  filled  it.  She  was  winning  hearts  on  all 
sides,  and  was  so  much  occupied  by  her  duties  that  her 
mind  had  hardly  time  to  dwell  on  past  sorrows.  The 
encouragement  that  she  had  received  had  set  her  pride 
at  rest.  Independence,  and  the  means  of  rearing  her 
children  as  their  father  would  have  done,  seemed  possi- 
ble. Several  influential  gentlemen  in  the  neighborhood, 
admiring  her  talents  and  method  of  teaching,  had  pro- 
posed that  she  should  open  a  private  school,  and  had 
guaranteed  a  number  of  pupils.  My  sister  warmly  ap- 
proved of  the  plan,  and  offered  her  assistance  in  estab- 
lishing the  seminary. 


THE   QUESTION   ANSWERED.  409 

The  idea  was,  to  have  both  boarding  and  day  schol- 
ars, and  to  engage  other  teachers  as  the  number  in- 
creased. There  were  several  houses  suitable  for  the 
purpose  to  let  in  the  village,  and,  at  the  time  I  reached 
home,  the  arrangements  were  being  discussed  at  every 
possible  opportunity.  I  was  at  once  -taken  into  the 
council,  and  my  opinions  canvassed  in  turn.  Mean- 
while, the  little  ones,  for  whose  welfare  all  these  ques- 
tions were  debated,  ran  in  blissful  ignorance  from  garret 
to  cellar  in  the  old  house,  and  made  the  garden  echo 
with  their  merry  voices. 

Mrs.  Lecount  flitted  about  from  place  to  place ;  at  one 
time,  sitting  in  my  mother's  room,  conversing  brightly, 
as  her  busy  fingers  plied  the  needles ;  and  at  another 
dowfc  at  Mr.  Lecount's,  helping  Miss  Marie  and  the 
others  with  their  work.  I  saw  but  little  of  her,  owing 
to  my  invalid  habits  and  the  many  calls  that  she  had 
on  her  time  and  purse.  The  past  seemed  to  be  buried 
in  oblivion  by  all,  and  I  shrank  with  morbid  dread 
from  making  the  least  allusion  to  it,  either  in  her  pres- 
ence or  during  her  absence.  She  was,  to  all  appear- 
ances, very  happy  and  contented  in  the  quiet  sphere  of 
life  that  she  had  chosen  for  herself.  Her  ambition  and 
pleasures  centred  in  her  child.  His  welfare  was  her 
principal  care,  yet  it  did  not  engross  her  so  entirely  as 
to  make  her  blind  or  indifferent  to  the  wants  of  others. 
I  learned  that  she  was  always  ready  to  help  those  in 
distress,  ever  the  first  to  hasten  to  the  homes  visited  by 
trouble.  She  was  a  welcome  guest  among  poor  and 
18 


410  DE.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

rich,  and  the  pet  of  all  the  children  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. She  would  listen  with  a  serious  face  and  thought- 
ful mind  to  the  many  lectures  and  debates  on  the  edu- 
cation of  the  little  ones,  given  oracularly  by  the  ma.trons 
of  the  village ;  and  an  hour  afterward  would  be  out  in 
the  garden,  entering  with  all  the  gayety  of  youth  into 
the  merry  games  planned  by  Arthur  and  Harry.  To 
please  them  she  could  be  a  child  again,  and  her  arrival 
among  them  as  a  playmate,  in  a  low-crowned,  wide- 
leafed  hat,  and  looped-up  dress,  was  always  hailed  with 
a  shout  of  delight. 

Hardly  a  day  passed  that  I  did  not  see  her,  or  meet 
her  on  the  road,  walking  lightly  along  the  grassy  foot- 
paths, carrying  a  basket  filled  with  little  luxuries  for 
the  sick,  with  Arthur  springing  beside  her,  talking 
gayly,  and  Dash,  who  always  joined  her  at  our  gate, 
bounding  away  in  advance.  Her  manner,  when  we 
thus  met,  was  easy  and  unrestrained.  AVe  took  up  the 
conversation  at  the  point  where  we  had  broken  off  at 
our  last  meeting,  with  all  the  quiet  confidence  of  old 
friendship.  A  stranger  meeting,  us  would  have  taken 
us  for  uncle  and  niece — she  so  bright  with  youth  and 
health,  chatting  earnestly  and  suiting  her  quick  steps 
to  my  slow,  invalid  pace,  for  I  had  not  yet  relinquished 
my  cane. 

I  had  partly  resumed  ray  practice.  People  came  to 
see  me  in  my  house,  and  consulted  me,  so  that  my  time 
did  not  hang  heavily  on  my  hands.  I  had  sent  in  my 
resignation,  finding  that  I  could  not  rely  upon  return- 


THE   QUESTION   ANSWERED.  411 

ing  to  the  array  at  any  stated  time,  and  knowing  that  I 
could  rejoin  it  at  pleasure. 

I  had  been  home  for  three  weeks.  One  pleasant 
afternoon  I  left  the  office,  where  I  had  been  occupied 
for  some  hours,  and  strolled  into  the  sitting-room,  in- 
tending to  -lie  down  there  for  a  short  rest,  as  I  felt 
rather  tired.  I  was  about  taking  possession  of  the 
lounge,  when  my  sister  put  her  head  into  the  room. 

"  John,  I  have  fixed  your  pillows  on  the  parlor  sofa. 
Jane  is  coming  in  here  to  sweep  and  dust ;  that  is,  if  you 
will  not  mind  the  change." 

"  I  believe  I  shall  enjoy  it,"  I  said.  "  The  parlor 
ought  to  be  cooler  at  this  hour." 

"  I  think  it  is,"  she  answered,  following  me  across 
the  hall,  into  the  large,  quiet  room. 

She  saw  that  I  was  comfortably  settled  for  a  sleep, 
darkened  the  window  nearest  to  me,  and  opened  the 
blinds  of  one  at  some  distance,  that  I  might  see  the 
sunlight,  and  feel  the  fresh  breeze  that  was  stirring  the 
flowers  beneath.  It  was  a  wide,  old-fashioned  apart- 
ment, with  windows  on  two  sides  of  it,  out  of  which 
one  might  step  on  the  broad  piazza,  covered  with  vines, 
that  extended  around  the  house.  From  my  place  in  the 
shaded  corner,  where  I  was  almost  concealed  by  a  stand 
of  flowers,  I  could  enjoy  their  sweet  perfumes,  and 
watch  the  sunbeams  darting  into  the  room,  softly  play- 
ing over  the  carpet,  producing  curious  effects  of  light 
and  shade  in  the  pictures,  and  causing  fantastic  shapes 
to  dance  upon  the  walls. 


412  DB.  WILMEB'S  LOVE. 

I  was  sinking  into  a  doze,  "when  a  sound  of  stops, 
approaching  along  the  piazza,  roused  me,  and  the  next 
moment  a  shadow  fell  on  the  floor,  and  Mrs.  Lecount, 
coining  in,  advanced  to  the  table  without  perceiving 
me.  She  had  a  basket  of  flowers  in  her  hand  which  she 
placed  on  it,  and  then  stood  arranging  them,  at  the  same 
time  humming  a  favorite  air.  I  lay  motionless,  drink- 
ing in  the  intoxication  of  her  presence,  while  every 
drop  of  blood  in  my  body  seemed  to  rush  to  my 
heart. 

She  was  dressed  in  her  favorite  style,  that  I  remem- 
bered so  well — soft  white  muslin,  with  violet  ribbons 
ornamenting  it,  and  a  narrow  band  of  the  same  color 
holding  the  drooping  curls  in  their  place,  and  drawing 
them  away  from  the  white  forehead.  Her  appearance, 
so  youthful,  so  lovely,  so  free  from  all  care,  recalled  a 
host  of  memories — some  sweet,  some  very  bitter.  As 
she  went  singing  out  of  the  room,  looking  for  my  sister, 
I  buried  my  face  in  the  pillows  with  a  heavy  sob,  and 
pressed  back  the  hot,  blinding  tears  that  filled  my  eyes. 
With  a  passionate  impulse,  I  rose  and  hurried  to  the 
long  mirror.  While  I  stood  gazing  sadly  at  my  own 
reflection,  with  its  sunken  cheeks,  dimmed  eyes,-  and 
gray  hair,  brushed  carelessly  back  from  the  temples, 
voices  in  the  hall  arrested  my  attention. 

"  Why,  indeed,  Belle,  he  is  in  the  parlor,"  my  sister 
said,  in  surprised  tones. 

"  Well,  I  shall  look  again,"  was  the  answer,  in  Mrs. 
Lecount's  clear  accents. 


TIIE   QUESTION   ANSWERED.  413 

She  turned  the  handle  of  the  door  as  she  spoke,  and 
met  my  eyes  as  I  turned  away  from  the  glass. 

"  Why,  you  are  here,  after  all !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I 
must  have  disturbed  you.  I  stopped  in  with  some 
flowers  for  Edith,  it  is  her  birthday;  and  besides,  I 
wanted  to  see  you." 

"What  is  the  matter?"  I  asked,  expecting  to  hear 
that  Arthur  had  cut  his  finger. 

"  I  had  a  letter  this  morning  from  Pauline.  She  says 
you  have  a  message  for  me."  » 

I  drew  back  confounded.  She  raised  her  bright,  un- 
puspicious  eyes  to  my  face. 

"  What  is  it  ?    Please  tell  me." 

"  She  told  me  to  say  to  you  that  her  conscience  was 
cleared  of  the  question  that  had  so  troubled  it  for  many 
years." 

I  spoke  slowly,  unprepared  for  the  effect  of  my 
words. 

Mrs.  Lecount  blushed  painfully,  and  then  became 
deadly  pale. 

"  Then  you  have  forgiven  me,  now  that  you  know 
all,  for  the  misery  I  made  you  suffer." 

She  looked  at  me  sadly,  imploringly,  and  trembled 
with  agitation  as  she  spoke ;  then  turning  away,  she 
covered  her  face  with  her  hands.  I  caught  them  in 
mine  violently ;  the  long-suppressed  love  overpowered 
me.  It  burst  forth  in  mad,  wild  words,  for  I  was  des- 
:perate  and  despairing;  only  conscious  that  passion  had 
swept  away  all  scruples,  and  that  I  was  speaking  from 


414  DE.  WILMEE'S  LOVE. 

my  heart,  giving  words  to  the  hopes  and  doubts  that 
had  tortured  me  for  years. 

As  I  ceased,  and  gazed  in  her  face,  expecting  only 
sympathy,  perhaps  indifference,  I  was  surprised  to  find 
her  eyes  cast  down,  and  a  timid  blush  of  pleasure  steal- 
ing over  her  cheeks. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  I  exclaimed,  "  that  you  can  care  for 
me  ;  that  you  may  yet  love  me  ?  " 

Her  answer  was,  to  throw  her  arms  around  my  neck, 
and  nestle  her  head  against  my  breast. 

"  Do  nothing  rashly,"  I  said,  afraid  to  believe  in  my 
great  happiness,  and  clasping  her  tightly,  lest  it  should 
be  indeed  a  dream.  "  Think,  my  child,  think  of  my 
age,  and  of  your  youth.  See  !  my  hair  is  gray  now.  I 
love  you,  but  I  may  not  be  able  to  make  you  happy." 

She  smoothed  the  hair  from  my  face,  and  raising  her- 
self suddenly,  succeeded  in  reaching  it,  and  pressing  her 
lips  upon  it  softly.  Her  eyes  sought  mine  with  the  old 
confiding,  childlike  light  in  them,  as  she  whispered — 

"  To  be  near  you  is  to  be  happy." 

"When  we  went  into  the  sitting-room  together  some 
hours  afterward,  ray  sister,  who  was  putting  preserves 
into  a  dish,  looked  up  from  her  employment  with  a 
quick,  searching  glance. 

"  So  you  two  understand  each  other  at  last,"  she  said 
abruptly,  her  voice  trembling  with  joy.  "  "Well,  I  should 
think  it  was  about  time." 

My  mother  dropped  her  knitting,  in  her  utter  aston- 
ishment. 


THE   QUESTION   ANSWERED.  41f> 

"  My  little  daughter,"  slie  exclaimed,  as  Belle  threw 
her  arms  around  her,  and  laid  her  face,  so  bright  and 
loving,  against  the  wrinkled  cheek,  "now  we  shall 
keep  John  at  home." 

We  were  married  in  the  following  spring,  and  I  took 
my  wife,  at  her  own  request,  to  revisit  the  many  scenes 
associated  in  our  minds  with  such  curious  memories  and 
conflicting  emotions.  We  went  over  the  old  ground  at 
Niagara,  and  I  was  surprised  at  her  vivid  recollection 
of  the  most  trifling  circumstances'  that  had  occurred 
there — little  things  that  I  had  long  since  forgotten.  Re- 
turning, we  spent  some  time  with  her  friends  in  New 
York ;  and  one  day,  while  walking  up  Fifth  Avenue,  we 
came  face  to  face  with  Mr.  Hammond,  looking  as  elegant, 
as  well  dressed,  and  as  well  to  do  as  ever.  From  the 
fact  that  he  was  leaning  on  the  arm  of  a  delicate  young 
man,  of  rather  weak-minded  appearance,  although  clad 
in  the  latest  and  most  costly  style,  we  concluded  that 
he  had  found  another  victim  for  his  artifices.  My  wife 
hastily  drew  down  her  veil,  and  tightened  her  grasp  on 
my  arm.  Mr.  Hammond,  fortunately,  did  not  recognize 
us,  or  pretended  not  to,  as  I  am  inclined  to  believe.  He 
was  talking  fluently,  in  his  easy  manner,  and  I  could 
not  suppress  a  sigh  of  pity  for  him  when  I  thought  of 
his  talents,  which,  if  well  directed,  would  have  made  him 
a  blessing  to  his  fellow-beings,  and  remembered  the  un- 
worthy object  on  which  he  employed  them.  We  also 
ascertained  that  Mrs.  Parker  was  in  Europe.  Unable  to 


416  DE.   WZLMEfifo   LOVE. 

resist  the  strong  feeling  of  disgust  and  horror  which  her 
own  conduct  had  raised  against  her,  she  had  gone  abroad 
in  search  of  the  society  that  was  denied  her  at  home. 

Soon  after  our  return,  Mrs.  Weston  moved  to  a  pleas- 
ant house  in  the  village,  where  she  opened  her  school 
with  the  most  encouraging  success.  The  deep  content- 
ment that  independence  brings  is  visible  in  her  appear- 
ance. Often,  as  I  sit  writing  in  my  office,  I  pause  to  lis- 
ten to  her  light  step  coming  up  the  garden-path,  and  her 
soft  voice  addressing  gay  speeches  to  a  certain  very  hap- 
py old  lady,  who  is  generally  to  be  found  seated  near 
the  window  of  the  room,  knitting  small  white  socks  for 
baby-feet.  Quietness  does  not  always  reign:  a  stout 
young  gentleman,  who  is  called  Harry  "Weston  Wilmer, 
monopolizes  a  large  portion  of  his  mother's  time,  and 
requires  a  great  deal  of  amusement.  Nothing  makes 
him  laugh  so  loud  as  the  sight  of  Arthur  and  the  little 
Westous  at  play ;  thus,  every  day,  merry  games  are  in- 
stituted for  his  entertainment,  and  childish  feet  dance 
over  the  floors,  while  childish  voices  echo  through  the 
house. 

Now,  when  I  ride  home  in  the  twilight,  sometimes  sor- 
rowful and  perplexed,  often  tired,  both  bodily  and  men- 
tally, the  old  dreams  of  impossible  happiness  come  true. 
A  slight,  graceful  form  hastens  to  meet  me,  soft  arms  are 
clasped  around  my  neck,  a  loved  face  is  lifted  to  mine, 
and  I  read  my  welcome  in  the  happy  light  shining  in 
the  deep,  truthful  eyes. 

THE 


LOUSA  MUHLBACH'S 

HISTORICAL   NOYELS. 


A  few  Words  by  the  Author  in  justification  of  the  His- 
torical Romance. 

The  Historical  Romance  has  its  great  task  and  its 
great  justification,  which  is  disputed  by  only  those 
who  either  have  not  understood  or  will  not  under- 
stand its  nature. 

The  Historical  Romance  has,  if  I  may  be  allowed 
so  to  speak,  four  several  objects  for  which  to  strive. 

Its  first  object  is,  to  throw  light  upon  the  dark 
places  of  history,  necessarily  left  unclear  by  the  histo- 
rian. Poetry  has  the  right  and  duty  of  setting  facts 
in  a  clear  light,  and  of  illuminating  the  darkness  "by 
its  sunny  beams.  The  poetry  of  the  Romance  writer 
seeks  to  deduce  historical  characteristics  from  histori- 
cal facts,  and  to  draw  from  the  spirit  of  history  an 
elucidation  of  historical  characters,  so  that  the  writer 
may  be  able  to  detect  their  inmost  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings, and  in  just  and  sharp  traits  to  communicate 
them  to  others. 

The  second  task  of  the  Historical  Romance  is,  to 
group  historical  characters  according  to  their  internal 
natures,  and  thus  to  elucidate  and  illustrate  history. 
The  illustration  then  leads  to  the  third  task,  which  is 
the  discovery  and  exposition  of  the  motives  which  im- 


2  LOUISA    MUHLBACH  8    HISTORICAL  NOVELS. 

pel  individual  historical  personages  to  the  performance 
of  great  historical  acts,  and  from  outwardly,  apparently 
insignificant  events  in  their  lives  to  deduce  their 
inmost  thoughts  and  natures,  and  represent  them 
clearly  to  others. 

Thence  follows  \hefourth  task  :  the  illustration  of 
historical  facts  by  a  romance  constructed  in  the  spirit 
of  the  history.  This  fourth  and  principal  task  is  the 
presentation  of  history  in  a  dramatic  form  with  ani- 
mated descriptions  ;  upon  the  foundation  of  history 
to  erect  the  temple  of  poesy,  which  must  nevertheless 
be  pervaded  and  illuminated  by  historic  truth.  From 
this  it  naturally  follows  that  it  is  of  very  little  conse- 
quence whether  the  personages  of  the  Historical  Ro- 
mance actually  spoke  the  words  or  performed  the  acts 
attributed  to  them;  it  is  only  necessary  that  those 
words  and  deeds  should  be  in  accordance  with  the 
spirit  and  character  of  such  historical  personages,  and 
that  the  writer  should  not  attribute  to  them  what 
they  could  not  have  spoken  or  done.  In  Historical 
Romance,  when  circumstances  or  events  are  presented 
in  accordance  with  historical  tradition  ;  when  the 
characters  are  naturally  described,  they  bear  with 
them  their  own  justification,  and  Historical  Romance 
has  need  of  no  further  defence. 

Historical  Romance  should  be  nothing  but  an  illus- 
tration of  history.  If  the  drawing,  grouping,  col- 
oring, and  style  of  such  an  illustration  of  any  given 
historical  epoch  is  admitted  to  be  true,  then  the  illus- 
tration rises  to  the  elevation  of  work  of  art,  wrorthy 
01  a  place  beside  the  historical  picture,  and  as  equally 
usesul. 


D.  APPLET  ON  &  CO:  S  PUBLICATIONS. 


JOSEPH   II.  AND  HIS  COURT. 


HISTORICAL 
BY  LOUISA  KLUKLBACH, 

Author  of  "  Frederick  the  Great  and  His  Court  "  "  Berlin  and 

Sans-Souci,"  "  Merchant  of  Berlin,"  &c.,  &c. 

TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  GEKXAX, 

BY  ADELAIDE  DE  V.  CHAUDRON. 

\ 

1    vol.,    Svo.     With    Illustrations.     Paper    Cover,    $1.50; 
Cloth,  $2.00. 


"  In  '  Joseph  II.'  she  transcends  her  previous  efforts,  not  only  in  the 
etory  wrought  out  in  a  masterly  manner,  but  the  real  characters  that  figure 
in  it  have  been  carefully  studied  from  the  detailed  chronicles  of  the  time." 
—  Philadelphia  Inquirer. 

"  T%e  serie^s  of  Historical  Novels  by  Miss  Mfihlbach  are  winning  for 
their  author  a  high  distinction  among  a  class  of  writers,  of  which  Sir  Walter 
Scott  has  stood  at  the  head.  The  events  of  history  which  are  interwoven  in 
the  romances  she  has  written,  are  not  distorted  and  falsified  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  sensation,  but  are  presented  with  a  truthfulness  which  gives 
a  solid  value  to  the  scries.  The  wlume  before  us  is  literally  one  of  thriiliim 
interest"—  Fulton  County  Republican.  • 

"  We  regard  these  books  as  among  the  best  and  most  entertaining  novels 
of  the  fay."—  Springfield  SepubUcan. 

"The  novel    is    divided  into  six  books,  and  includes  the  very  largo 
number,  of  one  hund/ed  and  seventy-six  chapters  ;  yet  the  interest  is  BO  well    *,  . 
kept  up  that  the  reader  never  tires  or  notic.es  with  regret  its  unusual  length. 
Courier. 


"  This  Is  an  historical  novel  of  intense  and  thrilling  power.  The  reader  is 
at  once  fascinated  and  held  spell-bound  nntil  the  volume  is  completed. 
Miss  Mflhibach's  novels  have  risen  into*  favor  vcryrapidly,  and  thie  fact  atone 
gives  a  good  indication  of  their  real  merit.  The  book  is  not  of  the  false 
sensational  kind,  but  the  interest  of  the  reader  is  chained  from  the  first 
chapter.1  '—Galetburg  Free  Pret*. 


D.  APPLETON  &  Off  3.  PUBLICATIONS. 


AN  HISTORICAL  NOVEL. 
By     IL,  . 


Author  of  "  Joseph  n.  and  Hi3  Court,"  "  Frederick  the  Groat  and 
His  Court,"  "Berlin  and  Sans-Souci,"  &o.,  &c. 

TRANSLATED  FBOX  THE  GEBXAH, 

% 

By    AMOfiY     COFFIN,     M.  D. 
1  vol,  12mo.     Cloth,  $2  00. 


•'  There  is  not  a  dull  chapter  in  it.  The  interest  of  the 
reader  is  well  maintained  from  the  beginning  to  the  close,  and 
we  know  of  no  book  of  similar  character  which  would  while 
away  an  afternoon  more  pleasantly." —  TJtita,  Herald. 

u  We  have  rarely  read  a  more  fascinating  work,  or  one  in 
which  the  interest,  from  the  opening  chapter  to  the  close,  \raa 
more  thoroughly  sustained." — Jersey  City  Daily  Times. 
t  "  We  like  this  story  better  thai^ither  of  Muhlbach's  works 
which  previously  had  fallen  in  our  way.  They  are  meritorious 
productions,  but  this  excels  them  in  interest  of  matter  as 
well  as  in  vivacity  of  style." — Boston  Traveller. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  captivating  series  of  historical  novels, 
or  really  of  novel  histories  by  Muhlbach,  and  one  of  the  most 
readable  books  of  the  season." — Baltimore  Gazette.  « 

"  The  story  is  exceedingly  interesting  and  possess'es  points 
which  will  render  it  highly  popular  among  all  classes.  We 
look  forward  with  genuine  pleasure  to  the  publication  of  more 
volumes  by  the  same  author,  being  convinced  that  they  will 
undoubtedly  become  the  most  popular  of  historical  novels  " — 
Georgetown  Courier. 


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